"We hope she will be taken to the court immediately as a defendant, as only after that can we declare her as a non-active governor, so that the administration of the province can be fully carried out by the Vice Governor," he explained here on Friday.
The minister added that while he could understand the demand made by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) that he should immediately suspend Ratu Atut, there were some considerations that needed to be taken into consideration and so he would wait for her trial to begin first.
"According to the law, the status of a suspect does not affect ones position. The law states that only after one is named as defendant could he/she be made non-active," he pointed out.
The minister added that Ratu Atut could hand over her tasks to her deputy on her own initiative.
"When I was provincial governor I made a deal with my deputy that he could take over my duties if I was absent for more than five days. That is a deal that can be done and, I did it when I was Governor and even when I was a district head. I did it to assure that the administration is not hindered," he elaborated.
He however added that the Banten Deputy Governor Rano Karno had met and consulted with him regarding the administration in the province in West Java.
"Pak (mr) Rano, at the time, had assured that he has no problem, as a number of regulations had already been signed. The legal bureau chief was also present at the meeting," he clarified.
Rano explained that the government operations in the province were running well, except for the authority to move personnel, which has not been handed over to him.
"The only problem is moving of the personnel. It is rather difficult as Bu (Mme) Atut still holds the authority," Gamawan pointed out.
Reporting by Panca Hari Prabowo
(H-YH/INE/H-YH)
EDITED BY INE
(KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
