Trial for Kendari councillors underway

Hasrul and Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Kendari/Palu

The graft trial of the former chief of Kendari municipality council, Haerudin Pondiu, began on Tuesday at the Kendari District Court on Tuesday.

Haerudin stands accused of embezzling Rp 5 billion (US$531,914) from Kendari municipality council budget last year with the help of 24 other Kendari councillors.

The 24 other councillors will be prosecuted in separate trials.

Tuesday's hearing was interrupted several times to allow the defendant, who recently had a slight stroke, to rest. Dozens of Haeruddin's relatives and friends packed the courtroom, while dozens of police personnel stood guard outside.

Presiding judge Abbas Supamena adjourned the trial until next Tuesday.

Separately, Central Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office began questioning on Tuesday four Donggala regental councillors over their alleged roles in the embezzlement of Rp 7.4 billion (US$822,222) from the Donggala 2001-2004 budgets.

The prosecutors summoned four other Donggala councillors for questioning, but they failed to turn up.

Deputy chief of Central Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office Hamzah Tadja said that the first four councillors were questioned as witnesses, but they could be named suspects if there were strong indications of them being involved in the embezzlement.

Hamzah said the prosecutors would again summons the four other councillors for questioning. The prosecutor's office also plans to question 16 other Donggala councillors in connection with the case.

The Kendari and Palu graft cases are just two of many such cases involving councillors nationwide.