JAKARTA: The government delayed on Saturday the release of former Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh from Sukamiskin prison in Bandung as he has not paid the Rp 500 million in fines imposed on him following his conviction in a graft case in 2005.
Prison warden Murdjito told Antara Puteh would need only to pay the fine in order to walk free after serving less than half of his jail term.
"He has not made the payment. The sooner he pays the fine the faster the process to release him."
He added that even if Puteh had paid the fine, he would have to wait for another three days to allow the government to verify the payment.
Failure to pay the fine will force Puteh to serve another six months in jail term. Puteh was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2005 for his role in a mark-up of helicopter procurement, making him the first active governor to be convicted of graft. The Supreme Court upheld the jail sentence later that year.
Puteh stayed in an assimilation house just behind the prison during the past six months. - JP
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