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fter naming former South Lampung regent Wendy Melfa a suspect in a Rp 26 billion (US$2.83 million) corruption case, the Lampung Higher Prosecutors’ Office is planning to probe another former regent of the same regency, Zulkifli Anwar, for his alleged involvement in the same graft case.

Zulkifli Anwar, currently a Democratic Party legislator representing Lampung at the House of Representatives (DPR), was elected as South Lampung regent for the 2005-2010 term of office. He resigned from the post in 2008 to run in the Lampung gubernatorial race and was replaced by his deputy regent, Wendy Melfa.

Sarjono Turin, who is heading the investigation at the Higher Prosecutors’ Office, said his office had scheduled Zulkifli for questioning because he was knowledgeable of the land acquisition process for the steam-powered power plant (PLTU) Sebalang project worth Rp 26.6 billion at the heart of the graft allegations. “We don’t need the President’s permission to examine him,” said Sarjono.

Quoting Article 220 of Law No. 27/2009 on the MPR, DPR, DPD and DPRD, Sarjono said that the examination of legislators indicted for corruption, terrorism and drug abuse did not need prior presidential permission. “That’s why we will summon him [Zulkifli] for sure,” he said.

The 2x100-megawatt PLTU Sebalang project in Tarahan, South Lampung, has been highlighted for corrupt practices including markups allegedly made by regency officials. The 66-hectare plot on which the plant was built was bought for only Rp 5,000 per square meter from locals and was later sold by officials for Rp 50,000 per square meter.

Sarjono said his team had collected a wealth of evidence in the case, including transaction documents, the site map and the markup documents.

His team, he said, had also found evidence that some of the land was acquired outside of the compensation mechanism. “There were only 56 hectares acquired [through the compensation mechanism] but the acquisition fund was allocated to cover 66 hectares of land.”

In 2010, residents claimed to have been forcefully evicted from their land to make way for the plant and received a mere token sum in compensation.

Sarjono said Wendy Melfa was alleged to have violated Article 2 (1) and Article 3 of the Law on Corruption, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years and a maximum fine of Rp 1 billion. Wendy was also alleged to have violated Presidential Decree No. 65/2006 on land purchases for public interests.

“We have examined Wendy and named him a suspect based on the evidence we have collected,” Sarjono said.

Wendy has not yet been arrested despite having been declared a suspect. The public information division chief at the Lampung Higher Prosecutors’ Office, M. Serry, said the office was certain that Wendy would not flee or damage evidence. “He is also cooperative.”

The head of the Higher Prosecutors’ Office, Pohan Lasphy, said more people could be declared suspects in the case, depending on the results his office’s investigation.

Separately, Zulkifli Anwar said he was ready to be summoned and examined by the Higher Prosecutors’ Office. “I am ready at any time,” he said.