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