Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan
Medan Mayor Abdillah and his deputy Ramli Lubis have been banned from traveling abroad following a request by the Corruption Eradication Commission to the immigration office.
The two are being investigated for alleged embezzlement in the purchase of a fire engine for Rp 12 billion (around US$1.3 million) from the city budget.
Commission spokesman Johan Budi said Thursday the request was filed with the immigration office on July 12.
The request, he said, was intended to ensure both Abdillah and Ramli remain in the country, in case they are needed for further questioning.
He said the commission found it necessary to file the request following new developments in the investigation.
""It is no longer only about alleged corruption in the purchase of the fire engine.
""Based on new developments, we have found it necessary to ban Mayor Abdillah and Deputy Mayor Ramli from traveling abroad,"" Johan told The Jakarta Post.
He said he could not provide details but promised the commission would soon disclose more information to the public.
""We'll publicly announce the latest developments soon, just wait,"" Johan said, only saying they related to an incident that took place between 2004 and 2005.
The embezzlement case came into the spotlight when it was revealed the revised 2005 Medan city budget included Rp 12 billion to purchase a fire engine.
The commission found this figure too high for the purchase of a single fire engine, as another fire engine purchased by the North Sumatra provincial administration at around the same time cost only Rp 9 billion.
The commission began questioning Abdillah and Ramli in late May this year.
The commission has also questioned several other officials, including city administration secretary Afifuddin Lubis, Medan Legislative Council speaker Syahdansyah Putra and former council speaker Tom Adlin, as well as North Sumatra provincial administration secretary Muchyan Tambuse.
Johan said all the officials being questioned by the commission were witnesses, adding the case is still under investigation.
Head of the immigration office in Polonia, Syarief O. Ahimsa, said Thursday the ban is already being enforced.
He said based on instructions from the immigration directorate on July 13, Abdillah and Ramli have officially been banned from traveling abroad for a year. The ban will last until July 12, 2008.
However, Johan said despite the ban, both Abdillah and Ramli could travel abroad, provided they had a valid reason and prior approval from the commission.
