Banyumas ex-councilors detained for corruption

Agus Maryono , The Jakarta Post , Purwokerto | Fri, 02/22/2008 9:00 AM | The Archipelago

Prosecutors in Banyumas, Central Java, detained eight former legislative council members Thursday after they were named suspects in a graft case involving some Rp 1 billion (US$111,000) from the regency budget.

The former councilors, who were members of the council's household affairs committee for the 1998-2004 term, were detained Thursday immediately after being questioned.

The eight suspects were identified as R. Suprapto, Anfatoni, M. Bakir, Kisworo, Darsono Rowi, Heriyanto Sarkum, Wasitah Yusuf and Ahmad Daldiri.

They are alleged to have misappropriated funds during the 2002-2003 fiscal year.

Each of the suspects is believed to have misused state funds amounting to between Rp 20 and 50 million.

The arrests surprised many because the case first surfaced three years ago and was only recently resumed.

The suspects were questioned by the head of the special crimes division at the Purwokerto Prosecutor's Office, Ansori.

"We have just resumed the case. We have examined them again and will hand over their case files to the Purwokerto District Court," Ansori said Thursday.

As many as 22 Banyumas legislative councilors were named suspects in the case in 2004. Fourteen were sentenced to between 12 and 16 years in prison, but all of them have since been released.

Among those sentenced were the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's local chapter head, Bambang Tri Waluyo Basuki, who was the Banyumas legislative council speaker, and the National Awakening Party's Banyumas chapter head, Musaddad Bikri Nur, who is currently a vice speaker of the council.

Upon release from prison, Bambang was dismissed by party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The eight suspects now being held at the Banyumas detention center would most likely face prison sentences similar to those sentenced earlier in the case.

A lawyer representing the suspects, Sardjono, called on prosecutors to be tolerant in handling the case, citing the age of his clients.

"Some have returned funds totaling Rp 47 million. I don't remember who returned the funds, but my clients would certainly repay all the funds that were allegedly misused," Sardjono said.

"I assure you they will be cooperative throughout the legal process."

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