Salim Osman, Jakarta – Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh used funds earmarked for salaries of civil servants to buy a Russian-made helicopter two years ago, Indonesia's anti-corruption court was told yesterday.
In the first high-profile case seen as a test of the new government's resolve to combat graft, prosecutor Wisno Baroto said the governor, who was detained earlier this month, also failed to include the purchase of the aircraft in the provincial budget.
The price of the helicopter was marked up and the state incurred losses of 10 billion rupiah (S$1.77 million).
The governor was also accused of depositing some 750 million rupiah into his personal bank account. The money was later used to pay a private company assigned to buy the helicopter.
Abdullah allegedly embezzled between 10.8 billion and 13.6 billion rupiah of state funds in a scam involving the purchase of the helicopter for official use.
He is one of four governors embroiled in corruption cases and the first to have been detained and charged in court.
Several other officials from the regents and districts are also being investigated by the newly-established Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has made the battle against corruption a key platform of his administration.
He has also pledged to recover state money lost in graft cases.
Scores of supporters of the Aceh governor gathered outside the court in the Kuningan district, demanding his release from jail.
In court yesterday, Abdullah insisted he did nothing wrong and did not gain anything from the purchase. He said officials needed the helicopter to carry out their duties in a region wracked by separatist violence.
'The purchase of the helicopter was done according to proper procedures,' the governor said.
Another prosecutor, Mr Chaidir Ramli, told reporters: 'If convicted, the governor faces either a minimum of 20 years' imprisonment or a life sentence.' Earlier yesterday, the governor asked his lawyers to press for his release from prison. He wanted to visit his constituents in Aceh after Sunday's devastating tidal waves that killed thousands of people in the province.
But his application was rejected by the panel of five judges led by Chief Justice Krisna Menon.
His wife, Madam Marlinda Purnomo, told reporters the request was backed by Jakarta governor Sutiyoso.
One of Abdullah's lawyers, Mr Juan Felix Tampubolon, said they would argue that the charges against him were improper as they were based on an anti-corruption law enacted in December 2002. The alleged offences were committed in July 2002. 'It is unconstitutional for the prosecution to apply the law retroactively against our client,' he said.