KPK's Move Naming Banten Governor Suspect Receives High Appreciation

Tangerang, Banten, Dec 18 (Antara) - The Banten Transparency Community (MATA) appreciates KPK`s move in naming Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah a corruption suspect. "However, the move against corruption in the province should not end by naming Atut as a suspect," a MATA member Oman Abdurahman said here on Wednesday. There are still many corruption cases yet uncovered linked to Ratu Atut and her relatives and cronies, Oman said, citing corruption in the procurement of health equipment, social aid and grant in 2001 and procurement of land for sport center. KPK also needs to investigate Ratu Atut`s alleged accomplices and cronies including relatives, politicians or regional officials in Banten, he said. "We do appreciate the KPK`s decision to name Ratu Atut as a suspect. It could serve as a start for further moves in the investigations," he said. Deputy coordinator of Tangerang Public Transparency Watch (TRUTH), Suhendar said he hopes that investigation of the Lebak election case would lead to unearthing rampant corruption in the province allegedly involving the governor and her relatives. Ratu Atut was charged with involvement in bribing disgraced former chief justice Akik Mochtar to rule a repeat of election for the Lebak district head already won by rival candidates. Suhendar urged the Home Affairs Minister to immediately suspend Ratu Atut and name a caretaker to make easier investigations of her legal case and that her investigation would not affect the process of regional administration. On Tuesday, KPK officially named Ratu Atut a suspect in the cases of Lebak election and corruption in the procurement of health equipment after a night long search of her house. "Ratu Atut together with TCW bribed Constitutional Court Chairman Akil Muchtar," KPK chief Abraham Samad said on Tuesday. TCW, for Tubagus Chaeri Wardana, or better known as Wawan, is Ratu Atut`s brother, who is now in KPK detention facing the same charges. Ratu Atut has been accused of nepotism with relatives given important positions in various district and city administrations in the province. Her son Andhika Hazrumy, is a member of the Banten Regional Representative Council (DPD), Andhika`s wife Ade Rosi Khairunnisa , a deputy chairwoman of the Serang city council, her step mother Heryani is deputy regent of Pandeglang, her younger sister Ratu Tatu Chassanah is deputy regent of Serang, her step brother Tubagus Chaerul Jaman is the major of Serang and Wawan`s wife Airin Rachmi Diany is mayor of Tangerang Selatan. Atut and Akil Muchtar are leading members of the Golkar Party, a member of the ruling coalition parties.