ANTI-GRAFT BODY ARRESTS FORMER BANK JABAR CHIEF

Jakarta, July 31 (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested former Bank Jabar Banten president director Umar Syarifuddin named a suspect in a graft case at the bank.

"We arrested US in Rangkas Bitung, Banten," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said here on Thursday.

A KPK investigating team arrested him at a house believed to be that of a soothsayer, he said.

"According to tips-off from the public, he has been staying at the house for ten days," he said.

The KPK decided to arrest him because he had twice ignored summons, he said.

Johan said the KPK summoned Umar on July 17 and July 23 this year.

"Based on tips-off from the public we chased and arrested him," he said.

Before making the arrest, the KPK had contacted the Umar family to ask why he ignored the KPK summons, he said.

After being arrested, Umar was later taken to the KPK building here for questioning. He arrived at the building at 07.45 p.m., accompanied by a number of KPK officers.

Umar who was dressed in batik refused to give a statement to the press upon his arrival.

The KPK has named Umar a suspect in the embezzlement of capital and tax payments from the bank's 30 branches between 2003 and 2005, inflicting Rp37 billion in losses to the state.