Senior Kutai official faces five years for graft

JAKARTA: Prosecutors on Thursday demanded a five-year prison term for Kutai Kartanegara acting deputy regent Samsuri Aspar, who is charged with embezzling local budget funds causing Rp 23.1 billion (around US$2 million) in state losses.

The prosecutors also demanded the defendant pay a Rp 250 million fine, or serve an additional six months in jail.

"Based on the evidence and testimonies, we found the defendant guilty of abusing his power by approving three proposed projects causing losses to the regency's 2005 budget," Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutor Supardi told the Corruption Court.

He said the defendant used the embezzled money to finance trips of local legislative councilors (worth Rp 18.5 billion), procure firearms for councilors (Rp 1.2 billion) and provide musical instruments for each district in the regency (Rp 5 billion).

The trial will resume next week to hear the defendant's plea. -JP