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Officials probe on graft case
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 09/30/2006 9:39 AM
PADANG, West Sumatra: Prosecutors in West Sumatra are questioning several officials from the Tanah Datar regency administration over a Rp 7 billion (US$780,000) corruption case.
The West Sumatra Prosecutor's Office believes Tanah Datar officials deposited money from the regency budget and then illegally divided among themselves the resulting Rp 7 billion in interest.
Prosecutors have questioned a number of witnesses and seized over Rp 102 million from the regency's coffers, but no suspects have been named.
Ferlandbang Sitorus from the prosecutor's office said that among those questioned were two former regency secretaries, Sultani Wirman and Nofriady Hamdi; the head of the regency administration's financial division, Adrion Nurdam; and the former head of the division, Syafrizal Nura.
Former regent Masiradi Martunus may be questioned in the future, he added.
""We found indications of corruption in the case. We believe a number of officials divided up the interest from the regency budget,"" Ferlandbang said.
The Tanah Datar administration deposited its budget from 2001 to 2004 at Bank BNI 46 and Bank Nagari.
It deposited Rp 10 billion at Bank BNI 46 in 2001, Rp 10 billion at Bank Nagari in 2002, Rp 40.7 billion at Bank Nagari in 2003 and Rp 10 billion at Bank Nagari in 2004, or a total of Rp 70.7 billion during the term of former regent Masiradi Martunus.
The prosecutor's office estimates the interest from the fixed deposits reached Rp 7 billion, which was then illegally divided among officials.
Prosecutors have confiscated documents and receipts linked to the case. -- JP
