"The Home Affairs Ministry has reinstated Sartono to his active duties as East Lampung district chief. It`s true that the Home Affairs Minister had previously signed a letter of his temporary suspension from duties, but now (the letter) has been withdrawn," said Reydonnyzar Moenek, Home Affairs Ministry`s head of information office.
Moenek added the decision to withdraw the letter of temporary discharge for Sartono had been based on new legal fact that Tanjungkarang court in Lampung had revoked Sartono`s accused status.
Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi said last week that he had signed a letter of temporary discharge for East Lampung Regent Sartono, making him effectively stripped of his responsibilities as a state official.
However, Tanjungkarang court has informed the Ministry of the new development on the case involving Sartono on Friday afternoon this week, causing the decision of the ministry on the matter losing its legal basis.
Sartono has earlier been indicted for illegal misappropriation of East Lampung regency?s budget. His case was being heard by the court when Sartono ran again for office in 2010 and won.
Tanjungkarang court has reportedly refused the indictment brought by the prosecutors before the court on reasons of incomplete legal basis. The indictment was deemed inaccurate as it had been based upon expired legal bases.
The prosecuting team is now re-working on the legal basis of the case.(*)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
