Ilustration (IST)
Jayapura, 27/2 (Jubi) – A presidential permit is not required to arrest the Regent of Maybrat Regency, Bernard Sagrim, as he has already been declared a suspect in cases of corruption and money laundering, a legal expert said.
Sagrim is being investigated in connection with the alleged embezzlement of 3 billion in 2009 grant funds and 93 billion in the Regional Budget for the period of 2011/2012. However, he remains free.
“I think it’s quite obvious. The Papua Police should not wait a president’s permit,” Director of Institute of Legal Aid Research, Assessment and Development of Manokwari (LP3BH), Yan Cristian Warinussy said by phone on Thursday (27/2).
Earlier, the Chief of Papua Police, Inspector General Tito Karnavian said the police has determined the Regent of Maybrat Regency as a suspect in August 2013 and currently is completing some documents.
“We sent a letter to the president three weeks ago requesting a detention permit, because the suspect is still a state official. But the letter from president we have not received yet. The detention would be executed once the letter has been received,” Tito spoke on Wednesday (26/2).
Sagrim is accused of involvement in corruption and money laundering cases related to grant funding for infrastructure of Maybrat Regency, procurement of government’s equipment, preparations for legislators’ inauguration and the election of local heads. He failed to report 3 billion of 15 billion allocated.
Police have already detained an official of Maybrat Regency, ZS, as a suspect . He could face 20 years prison if found guilty.
Not long after the detention, based on some findings of the finance inspectorate, the Governor of West Papua Province, Abraham Octavianus Ataruri reported Sagrim to the police for alleged corruption of Regional Budgetary 2011/2012 with total amount of 93 billion. Sagrim has returned 2 billion to the state. (Jubi/Arjuna/rom)
