Indonesian governor indicted on corruption charges

Indonesian governor indicted on corruption charges

2011-01-11 01:51:40 GMT+7 (ICT)

BENGKULU, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- A western Indonesian governor was indicted on Monday on corruption charges involving over $2 million, the Jakarta Globe reported.

Agusrin Najamuddin, the governor of Bengkulu province, is being accused of embezzling Rp 20.1.62 billion ($2.24 million) from provincial funds which he allegedly transferred to his private bank account.

The Bengkulo governor was charged at the Central Jakarta District Court under the 1999 Anti-Corruption Law and, if found guilty, Najamuddin is facing up to twenty years of imprisonment.

Authorities executed an audit of the Bengkulu budget in 2006 and discovered that tax revenue was not deposited into the official account but rather in a private one. The Palembang Audit Agency also noted that the tax money could be withdrawn from such account without the approval of the provincial legislature.

Najamuddin and the head of the Bengkulu revenue office, Chairuddin, are the main suspects in the case and both deny any wrongdoing. Chairuddin later acknowledged that the illegal transfers were consented by Najamuddin.

The governor denies all allegations and said that the money was lost and not transferred to his account. Despite being under investigation since 2008, Najamuddin was allowed to run for re-election in 2010 and succeeded.

Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi said Najamuddin will be suspended from his official activities on Tuesday, following his indictment.

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