Governor allows prosecutors to quiz 75 councilors

Awang Faroek: (JP/Nurni Sulaiman)East Kalimantan governor Awang Faroek Ishak has issued permits for state prosecutors and the police to question 75 regional legislative council members across the province in connection with corruption cases.

Head of the administrative bureau at the provincial government Sri Sulasmi Retno said the governor had no reason to turn down any request from law enforcers for the permit, which is mandatory to launch a criminal investigation into local politicians.

“The governor only follows the procedure. As far as the requirements are fulfilled, he has no reason to delay or reject a legal process against a state official,” kompas.com quoted Sulasmi on Wednesday.

Awang himself has been named a graft suspect in connection with divestment of coal company PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) in 2006 when he was the East Kutai regent. Prosecutors believe the case has resulted in Rp 576 billion (US$63 million) in state losses