Amid criticism, resigned ex-graft convict

Bagus BT Saragih, the Post of Jakarta, Jakarta | National | Mon, October 22 2012, 6: 53 PM

Amid criticism, Azirwan, a former graft convict who is now at the head of a government institution in the province of Riau Islands Province Governor tendered his resignation, Muhammad Sani, an official said on Monday.

"The Riau Islands Governor Gamawan Fauzi to Home Minister has just reported that he got Azirwan of resignation," Home Ministry spokesman Reydonnyzar Moenek said in a text message to journalists.

Reydonnyzar added that the Minister approved the resignation and asked the Governor to prepare Azirwan of replacement as head of the Agency of fisheries and Riau Islands maritime resources within three days.

Azirwan, the former Secretary of the Bintan regental administration, was jailed for bribing legislator Amin Nasution in a hotel in Jakarta in March 2008.

Azirwan bribed the politician to get approval for the conversion of a 8,000 hectares of protected forest in Bintan in a business zone.

The total bribes paid by the Administration to the House, by Amin, Bintan was Rp 4 billion (US $ 416,448).

Azirwan was sentenced to two-and-a-half-years in prison on september 1, 2009, but was released in mid-2010.

Shortly after being released, Azirwan was appointed chief Commissioner of the Agency Bintan enterprises.

On 9 March this year, named Riau Islands Governor Muhammad Sani him interim head of the Riau Islands Maritime Affairs and fisheries Office. He was sworn in as head of the Agency on 24 september.

The promotion led to public outrage, with activists against say that the wrong message on corruption. (lfr)