Top officials charged in ship scam
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi
The South Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office announced on Thursday that Selayar Regent Muhammad Akib Patta and the speaker of the regency's legislative council, Ince Langke, were suspects in a corruption case.
The director of PT Selayar Utama Corporation, Salewang Syamsu Alang, was also named a suspect in a case involving the procurement of the passenger ferry KM Takabonerate.
Chief prosecutor Alex Sato Bya said the three men were declared suspects after his office found evidence of procedural violations in the purchase of the ferry.
The ferry was bought last year for Rp 3.5 billion (US$411,764) to serve the route between Selayar regency and Bulukumba regency, also in South Sulawesi. The money for the purchase came from a loan from Bank Pembangunan Daerah, which is owned by the local administration.
To guarantee the bank loan, the Selayar regent used money from last year's budget.
However, the ferry is no longer in operation because of engine trouble it suffered just months after its purchase.
Alex said prosecutors, assisted by a team of technicians from Hasanuddin University in Makassar, South Sulawesi, had examined the KM Takabonerate, particularly its seaworthiness.
The investigators found possible irregularities in the procurement of the ferry, the condition of which did not justify the price paid for its purchase, he said.
"We have ordered the Selayar Prosecutor's Office to complete the investigation into the case and take it to court. It appears to be facing a hurdle, but we will go ahead with the case," Alex said.
He acknowledged having proposed that Attorney General M.A. Rachman dismiss the head of the Selayar Prosecutor's Office for failing to deal seriously with the case.
Ince Langke said he was surprised to be charged in the case, saying he was never questioned by police or prosecutors in connection with the purchase of the ferry.
"The decision does not make sense. How can I be a suspect even though I was never investigated?" he asked.
Ince said prosecutors could not charge him because he gave the Selayar regent approval to buy the ship using a bank loan on behalf of the local legislature, not as an individual.
The approval was issued after having been discussed in a meeting attended by all of the factions in the council, he said.
"Therefore, if the approval is considered irregular, all of the members of the council should be named suspects, not only me."
Ince also said he was not directly involved in the ship's purchase, which, according to him, was done at the request of locals.
South Sulawesi Governor Amin Syam said he had yet to receive a request from prosecutors to summon the suspects for questioning, but promised that he would approve the request.
He said he believed the corruption charges against the three officials in Selayar were supported by "strong reasons".