The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Wed, July 29 2015
Atut Chosiyah, serving a seven-year jail sentence for graft, has been officially dismissed as Banten governor and she will be replaced by deputy governor Rano Karno.
Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said here on Tuesday that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had issued a presidential decision on Atut’s dismissal.
“The President’s decision on Atut’s dismissal has been issued and announced in a plenary session of the Banten provincial legislative council,” he said as quoted by Antara news agency.
He said the President was expected to issue another decision to appoint Rano Karno as the new governor to replace Atut.
“Rano’s inauguration will likely be conducted at the State Palace,” he said, adding that the appointment of Rano as new governor would take a couple of weeks.
Atut was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment as punishment for giving Rp 1 billion (US$80,000) bribe money through her lawyer to former Constitutional Court head Akil Muchtar. Atut paid the bribe to try and secure her family member Amir Hamzah as the new Lebak regent. After an appeal, the Supreme Court handed down a heavier sentence of seven years’ imprisonment.
(Tjonge, a bit too many fried onions ($$$$), now Atut has become Kentut!
) siK.
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