REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BENGKULU -- The Bengkulu anti corruption watchdog (Puskaki) said the first duty of the new chief prosecutor of Bangkulu is to arrest city mayor Helmi Hasan.
"We urge the new head of the Bengkulu prosecution office, to pass order for the detention of Helmi Hasan and other suspects in the social aid corruption case, now still free," Melyansori, the coordinator of the Bengkulu Puskaki Bengkulu,said here on Sunday.
The new chief prosecutor to replace Wito, who had started investigations of the case, was reported to have arrived in the city on Sunday and to start his duty on Monday.
"Hopefully the new chief prosecutor is not a toothless tiger. We hope he as firm as Wito in dealing with corruption cases in this region," Melyansori said.
Wito already started probing the case of alleged embezzlement of fund for social aid in 2012-2013 involving high district officials.
Helmi Hasan has failed to honor summons by Wito for investigations, therefore, ha was considered not cooperative.
He failed to appear five times for questioning and had disappeared for more than a month.
Wito had even issued an order to look for home.
Helmi Hasan reappeared two days after Wito was transferred to other area , Melyansori said.
For the past 15 days, acting chief prosecutor Azhari could not do much as he had no power to make a decision over the case to arrest Helmi Hasan, he said.
"Therefore, we ask the new chief prosecutor to arrest Helmi Hasan to be fair to seven other suspects already arrested in the same case," he said.
Meanwhile, Bengkulu mayoralty spokesman Salahudin Yahya said in the two months, from March to May 30 , the mayor was sick and was not in the city as his health was deteriorating.
"The mayor was sick, therefore, he could not honor the summons. There was proof. His doctor is clear. But early June he could appeared at the prosecution office," Salahudin said.