West Java Governor Declines to Intervene in Tasikmalaya Regent-Deputy Conflict

BANDUNG, Indonesia (AP) — West Java Gov. Dedi Mulyadi said Saturday he would respect the legal process initiated by Tasikmalaya Regent Ade Sugianto, who reported Deputy Regent Cecep Nurul to police. ⁢The regent alleges document forgery, including the unauthorized use of ⁣official letterhead and stamps addressed to sub-district and village leaders.

Mulyadi stated he would not interfere,as the matter is now within‍ the purview of law enforcement.

Governor Defers to Legal System

“If the reporting is the aspect, it is already a law,” Mulyadi told reporters in Bandung.”Yes, we just follow the⁤ legal mechanism.”

Pilkada Re-Vote Unaffected

Mulyadi assured that the legal dispute would not impede the Tasikmalaya Regency Pilkada re-voting (PSU), scheduled for April 19. He emphasized that funding for ⁤the election would remain separate from the legal proceedings.

“The financial ⁢aspect is still different‍ from the reporting earlier,” Mulyadi said. “The reporting was different from the financial aspects of financing (PSU). yes, there is no problem.”

Province ‍to Cover Half of⁤ Re-Vote Costs

The West Java provincial government has allocated funds to‍ cover half of the estimated 43 billion rupiah cost for the Tasikmalaya Regency PSU, mulyadi said.

“Already, the provincial government budget is half of the implementation costs,” he stated. “The province, I check, if we have ready Money.”

Regent alleges Forgery of 30 Letters

Sugianto,through his legal counsel,previously claimed that Nurul falsified⁢ approximately 30 letters. these ‍letters allegedly contained elements detrimental to finances, amounting to between 15 million and 20 million rupiah per letter.

The letters reportedly concern the deputy regent’s official travel expenses, along with those of sub-district and village heads.

legal Counsel Outlines Allegations

Bambang Lesmana, a member of Sugianto’s legal team, stated that the alleged forgery included the unauthorized use of the Regent ‍of Tasikmalaya’s official letterhead and stamp.

This ‍report is related to alleged criminal acts ⁢Article 263 concerning the counterfeiting of letters and letterheads and their contents, including the use of an illegal regent’s stamp. If it is proven,the threat of a sentence of six years in prison.

Bambang Lesmana, speaking to reporters at the Tasikmalaya Police Criminal Investigation Unit