Tulangbawang regent named suspect in graft case

Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post/Bandarlampung

Various regents in the regions have been named graft suspects, with the latest being Tulangbawang Regent Abdurrachman Sarbini.

The regent was charged on Friday for bypassing the regental council in the questionable purchase of a Rp 4 billion (US$400,000) ship. Prosecutor Maryono said that the regent used money from the regental budget for the controversial ship purchase without seeking permission from the regental council.

The money had been allocated as reserve funds for the regency's 2004 budget, but the regent used it to purchase the ship, the prosecutor said.

The investigation into the regent began several months ago, after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono approved investigation into seven high-ranking regional government officials, including Sarbini.

Tulangbawang Transportation Office chief Tadjudin Barto has also been named a graft suspect by the Lampung Prosecutor's Office.

Regent Abdurrahman Sarbini is upbeat about being declared innocent, insisting that he followed procedure in the ship's purchase. He also said there had been no price markup in the purchase.

"Even after the case came to light, one party offered to buy the ship for Rp 5 billion," said the regent. Sarbini is just one of many regional government officials being prosecuted for graft.