Siti Masitha Soeparno Explained

Siti Masitha Soeparno
Office:Mayor of Tegal, Central Java
Term Start1:23 March 2014
Term End1:29 August 2017
President1:Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Predecessor1:Ikmal Jaya
Successor1:Nursholeh
Birth Date:10 January 1964
Birth Place:Jakarta, Indonesia
Citizenship:Indonesian
Party:Golkar
Children:4

Siti Masitha Soeparno (born 10 January 1964) is an Indonesian businesswoman and politician. She served as the mayor of Tegal in Central Java from 2014 to 2017.

On the evening of Tuesday, 29 August 2017, Soeparno was arrested on graft charges by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), leading to her removal from office. Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo referred to her arrest as a heavy blow to the entire province and called for a meeting of all mayors as a warning.[1] Soeparno was arrested during a city council meeting at her official residence at the city hall complex. The Commission sealed the Kardinah Regional General Hospital just before the arrest, and the charges were allegedly related to Soeparno's approval of a new ICU built at the hospital.[2] Her arrest occurred during a nationwide sweep of ten local officials by the Commission between July and September 2017.[3]

Soeparno's predecessor, Ikmal Jaya, was also removed from office by the KPK due to corruption, meaning two consecutive mayors of Tegal have been removed on graft charges.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Suherdjoko, Tegal mayor’s arrest a ‘heavy blow’ to Central Java: Governor. Jakarta Post, 30 August 2017. Accessed 28 February 2018.
  2. Suherdjoko, Central Java governor to soon appoint acting Tegal mayor. Jakarta Post, 31 August 2017. Accessed 28 February 2018.
  3. Dwi Kiswanto, What local official arrests tell us about Indonesian political system. Jakarta Post, 12 October 2017. Accessed 28 February 2018.
  4. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/29/kpk-arrests-tegal-mayor-siti-masitha.html KPK arrests Tegal mayor Siti Masitha