Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has appointed Saleh Lasata as acting Southeast Sulawesi governor after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained non-active governor Nur Alam on corruption charges.

"As the regional head cannot perform his duties, I appoint an acting governor to carry out the government tasks. This way, he will politically be responsible for the decision-making process in the implementation of development programs," Tjahjo said here on Thursday.

Lasata was formerly the Southeast Sulawesi vice governor.

He has been appointed as Southeast Sulawesi governor based on the ministers decision number 122.74/3000/SJ dated July 6, 2017.

The minister asked Saleh to continue the programs he had formulated along with his predecessor and to comply with the political pledge he had made to the people of Southeast Sulawesi province.

On the other hand, all sides must support the policies taken by Lasata in the capacity as acting Southeast Sulawesi governor, he added.

Alam has been detained after being questioned as a suspect in an alleged graft case at the KPK building here on Wednesday. He is charged with abusing power by issuing nickel mining permits in two districts in Southeast Sulawesi between 2009 and 2014.

The anti-graft body has named Alam as a suspect in the alleged graft case since Aug 2016.

He filed a request for a pretrial motion with the South Jakarta district court, but sole judge I Wayan Karya rejected it on Oct 12, 2016.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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