Aceh former governor freed from jail

BANDUNG: Aceh former governor Abdullah Puteh will be released on probation from Sukamiskin penitentiary in Bandung on Wednesday after paying a fine of Rp 500 million (US$50,000) to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Penitentiary head Murdjito announced he had received notification of the fine payment on Tuesday.

"The payment confirmation was issued by the KPK today and his lawyer submitted it to us," Murdjito told The Jakarta Post.

In April 2005, the South Jakarta District Court sentenced Puteh to 10 years in jail for his involvement in a graft case on the purchase of a Russian MI-2 Rostov helicopter for the Aceh administration. He has been detained since December 2004.

For the past six months, Puteh has been part of an assimilation program, living in a house located some 20 meters from the penitentiary. He is reportedly joining a doctoral program at a university in Jakarta. - JP