Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara – Students demanded the attorney general immediately remove the head of the East Nusa Tenggara Prosecutor's Office, Oparis Siahaan, for his alleged failure to deal with corruption cases.

They voiced the demand during a protest in front of Siahaan's office in Kupang on Wednesday.

The cases include the alleged misappropriation of health facility funds from the provincial health office in 2000, disaster mitigation funds from the social affairs office and fishing boat procurement funds in Kupang regency, fictitious official trips at the manpower office and billions of rupiah in retirement funds for South Central Timor legislative council leaders.

"The sluggish handling of corruption cases indicates that law enforcers are not doing their job as they should," said rally coordinator Zakarias Gara.

He said that these cases remained outstanding was proof prosecutors were not serious about handling graft cases. "It gives the impression that law enforcers have turned graft cases into a means of earning money, with suspects able to be perpetually extorted," alleged one protester.

Protesters also urged the East Nusa Tenggara legislative council to form a special team to follow up reports from the Supreme Audit Agency indicating state losses of more than Rp 160 million from official council trips and more than Rp 522 million in allowances to council leaders.