Central Java's Cilacap Regent Probo Yulastoro has been temporarily discharged from his post, more than three months after being arrested as a graft suspect.
Central Java Deputy Governor Rustriningsih on Wednesday confirmed Probo's suspension.
"I have asked the Home Ministry to confirm the suspension. However, the dismissal letter is still in the hands of the home minister," she told the media.
She said the Cilacap regency administration is currently headed by Deputy Regent Tatto S. Pamudji.
The suspension ended Probo's three-month control of the administration from behind bars.
The temporary discharge was authorized after prosecutors submitted his case file to the Cilacap District Court last week for an immediate trial.
Rustriningsih said Probo's suspension would take effect as from when trial proceedings begin in court. This is in accordance with a 2005 law stipulating that local administration heads will be suspended from official duties if are named suspects in criminal cases.
Probo was allegedly involved in the misuse of Rp 20 billion (about US$2 million) from the Cilacap administration's 2004-2008 budget.
In July, prosecutors declared the regent a suspect in the embezzlement case and detained him one week later.
He is expected to stand trial in the near future along with the regency's finance division head, Fajar Subekti, who is also a defendant in the same case.
Cilacap Deputy Regent Tatto S. Pamudji also confirmed Probo's suspension. He added he was ready to perform his new duties as acting Cilacap regent.
"I have been informed that Regent Probo Yulastoro's suspension letter has been signed by the home minister. I am just following orders from my superiors," Tatto told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
He added that the home minister had also signed a letter appointing him acting regent. "My appointment was verbally authorized by phone, and I have yet to receive the official letter."
Tatto said he would revive the functioning of the Cilacap administration which is now virtually paralyzed.
"I acknowledge that the wheels of administration in Cilacap have been affected since these graft cases came to light," he said.
Apart from the graft case involving the Cilacap regent and head of the finance division, a number of other officials are also currently undergoing trials or are being investigated for separate corruption scandals.
Cilacap regency secretary Suprihono and three of his subordinates are also being prosecuted in a Rp 2 billion land acquisition graft case involving the Buton steam-powered electricity generation plant in 2008.
Police are also investigating a graft case involving Rp 13 billion in state funds and a number of officials, including all 23-district and 280-village chiefs in the regency.
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|