JAKARTA: Gowa Regent Sitti Husniah Talenrang (pic) in South Sulawesi has been named a suspect in four separate graft and extortion cases, making her the 14th regional head to face corruption allegations this year.
South Sulawesi police spokesperson Sr Comr Didik Supranoto said investigators named Husniah a suspect after questioning 30 witnesses and consulting four experts.
“Investigators could question additional witnesses and were still looking into the possibility that other people were involved in the cases,” Didik said on Monday (Sept 28), according to state broadcaster RRI.
Didik said Husniah was allegedly involved in four separate cases involving corruption, extortion and money laundering. He said Husniah allegedly demanded between Rp 1 million and 1.5 million (US$ 55-85) from housing developers for every house they built in the regency, in exchange for permits to carry out their projects.
In another case, she allegedly demanded a 70 per cent discount from a developer when buying a house in one of its projects.
Police also alleged that Husniah demanded Rp 85 million from minimarket chain Indomaret for each permit issued to build a convenience store in the regency. She also allegedly demanded that the company pay Rp 100 million to sponsor a local tourism event.
Police have seized two houses allegedly linked to the cases, valued at Rp 1.4 billion and Rp 3.5 billion, respectively, as well as a car valued at Rp 682 million.
“The total value of the seized assets was more than Rp 5.5 billion,” Didik said.
South Sulawesi Police's anti-corruption unit head, Sr. Adj. Comr. Jufri said Husniah had not been detained but had been placed on a travel blacklist, preventing her from leaving Indonesia.
Jufri said police had not detained Husniah because she had so far remained cooperative and willing to assist with the investigation.
“So far, we have seen that regent Husniah has remained cooperative and can still work with us,” Jufri said on Monday as quoted by Kompas.com.
“We ask her to continue complying with the rules and procedures so that the process can run smoothly and we can resolve this matter as well as possible,” he added.
Police have charged Husniah under Article 12 of the Corruption Eradication Law and Article 607 of the Criminal Code for alleged money laundering. The provisions carry a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp 5 billion.
Husniah was named a suspect about a month after the Gowa Legislative Council (DPRD) agreed to ask the Supreme Court to remove her from office over allegations of corruption, abuse of power and an extramarital affair.
All seven factions in the Gowa DPRD, including Husniah's own National Mandate Party (PAN), backed the proposal at a plenary session on Aug 12, following a months-long investigation by a special committee into allegations of misconduct by the regent.
The request is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court, which will assess whether it has sufficient legal grounds. If the court approves the request, the home minister can remove Husniah from office.
Husniah is the 14th regional head to face a corruption case in Indonesia this year.
Before Husniah was named a suspect, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had arrested 13 other regional heads in connection with graft cases, including Madiun Mayor Maidi, Pati Regent Sudewo, Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq, Rejang Lebong Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari, Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman, Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo, Muara Enim Regent Edison, Kuantan Singingi Regent Suhardiman Amby, Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani, Langkat Regent Syah Afandin, West Lombok Regent Ahmad Zaini, Pemalang Regent Anom Widiyantoro and North Bolaang Mongondow Regent Sirajudin Lasena. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
