“The appointment [of an acting Tegal mayor] is needed to guarantee that public service deliveries in the city can continue. We are now waiting [for the naming of Siti Masitha as a suspect]. Once it is announced, we will prepare the acting major,” said Ganjar on the sidelines of a work visit in Batang regency, Central Java, on Wednesday.

Siti Masitha is not the first regional head arrested over graft allegations as KPK investigators previously apprehended Klaten regent Sri Hartini and several Kebumen Legislative Council members and high-rank officials of the regency administration in a string of anti-graft operations.

(Read also:Tegal mayor’s arrest a ‘heavy blow’ to Central Java: Governor)

Ganjar asserted the Tegal mayor’s arrest should get serious attention from all parties and that state civilian apparatuses should manage to restrain themselves from committing corruption.

“If so many officials are still eager to ‘steal,' I will give my support to KPK investigators to make frequent visits to Central Java to conduct sting operations,” he said.

Siti Masitha was arrested over alleged graft at her official residence in the City Hall complex on Jl. Gede Sedayu, Tegal, on Tuesday evening. Before the arrest, KPK investigators sealed offices at Kardinah Regional General Hospital (RSUD). It is suspected the mayor’s arrest is related to the construction of an intensive care unit (ICU) facility at the hospital. (ebf)

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