Banyumas probe reaches Police-TNI

Agus Maryono ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Purwokerto   |  Sat, 02/23/2008 4:44 PM  |  The Archipelago

The Purwokerto Prosecutor's Office has asked the police in Banyumas to investigate three former legislative councilors from the Indonesian Military (TNI)/National Police faction for their alleged involvement in a Rp 1 billion corruption case.

Head of special crimes at the prosecutor's office, Ansori, told The Jakarta Post on Friday he had requested police assistance to interrogate all former councilors allegedly involved in the Rp 1 billion scam at the Banyumas regency council, including those from the police and military faction.

Ansori said Friday authorities had to look at every former councilor with a possible link to the case, regardless of who they are or what faction they were connected with.

He said prosecutors had handled the case from the beginning, but needed police assistance to push forward the investigation.

As many as 22 former councilors were allegedly involved in misappropriating Rp 1 billion during the 2002-2003 fiscal year.

Fourteen of the former councilors were sentenced to between 12 and 16 months in prison, and have since been released.

These include Wiyono, who was re-elected to the Banyumas council after his release from jail, and Musaddad Bikri Nur, who is now the vice speaker of the legislature.

Prosecutors are detaining eight other former councilors.

Mussadad said police would question three former councilors from the military/police faction also allegedly involved in the graft.

They have been identified as Mas'ud, Sus Mukseno and Kirlan.

"Yes, they have not yet been questioned, but they were members of the budgeting committee then. Let's hand over the case fully to law enforcers to deal with the matter fairly," Musaddad said Friday.

The detention of the eight former councilors has elicited some fairly strong reactions, including from the other councilors involved in the case.

Wiyono from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said prosecutors should not be selective in handling the case.

"There are still many others who were involved in the Rp 1 billion scam, including those from the police and military faction. So, why haven't they been questioned? The three former councilors from the police and military should also be investigated in the name of justice," Wiyono said.

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