Trial of deputy governor begins

Trial of deputy governor begins

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Makassar District Court commenced on
Wednesday the trial of deputy South Sulawesi governor Masnawi on
corruption charges.

Prosecutor Daud Kinu accused Masnawi of having violated
Article 1 of the anti-corruption Law No. 3/1971 on enriching
oneself at state expense. The Article carries a maximum
punishment of life sentence.

Kinu said Masnawi, who was head of the Provincial Development
Planning Agency between 1996 and 1998, had unlawfully exchanged
nine hectares of land in Benteng Somba Opu subdistrict of Gowa
regency with the provincial Tourism and Training Center campus.

Kinu said the defendant, who claimed to have acted on behalf
of the governor, had caused the state Rp 1.6 billion in losses.

"Pak Masnawi may face a life sentence since the alleged
corruption he committed caused immense financial losses to the
state," Kinu told The Jakarta Post after the hearing, presided
over by judge Ismed Ilahode.

Coordinator of the defendant's team of lawyers, Faisal
Dachlan, said the lawyers had yet to submit their defense
statement, pending the questioning of some 12 key witnesses.

Among the witnesses are acting governor of the newly
established Banten province, Hakamuddin Djamal, who was the
provincial regional secretary at the time and incumbent Gowa
Regent Yasin Limpo. (27/01)