Three officials grilled in graft case

Fri, 02/22/2008 5:00 PM | The Archipelago

PALU: Three local officials in Palu have been questioned in connection with a Poso recovery fund graft case worth Rp 58 billion (US$6.10 million).

The head of Poso's welfare office, Harry S. Kabi, fisheries and maritime resources office head Arif Latjuba and manpower and transmigration office head Andi Rahmatullah underwent questioning by prosecutors from the Poso Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday.

After the questioning, the three said they were asked about the spending of the recovery funds in 2006.

Harry said he did not know how his office spent the allotted Rp 1.4 billion because he was only two months into his job.

So far, no officials have been held as suspects, although three other officials have also been questioned.

The regency legislative council recently demanded an immediate settlement of the case.

The funds were distributed by the central government to reconstruct houses and infrastructure damaged during the sectarian conflict from 1999 to 2002. --JP