Wife of Pacitan regent detained

Wife of Pacitan regent detained

JAKARTA: The Jakarta Provincial High Court has ordered the
detention of Sri Hartati, the wife of the regent of Pacitan, East
Java, for alleged fraud involving Rp 5.23 billion, high court
President Muljohardjo said here on Wednesday.

Muljohardjo explained that Sri, who has been sent to the
Women's Penitentiary in Pondok Bambu, East Jakarta, was charged
in connection with a Rp 7.86 billion order her firm received from
the General Elections Committee (KPU) to supply 960,000 political
party banners prior to the 1999 general election.

"However, she only supplied 240,000 banners worth Rp 1.9
billion. This resulted in the KPU suffering a loss of Rp 5.23
billion," Muljohardjo said.

The High Court detained the suspect as "she has ignored the
court's summons, and we are also worried that she may attempt to
pervert the course of justice."

The fact that she could face more than five years in jail if
convicted was another reason why she was detained, Muljohardjo
explained.

The other suspects in the alleged swindle are Clara Sitompul,
Bambang Mintoko, Ahmad Latif and I Wayan Lasia, who are all KPU
members. The case files have been submitted to the court for
further action. --JP