JAILED FORMER NTB GOVERNOR ON HUNGER STRIKE

Mataram, Oct 28 (ANTARA) - Former West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) governor Lalu Serinata has been on hunger strike since his detention in Mataram Correctional Institution (LP Mataram) on Monday, October 27, 2008.

Serinata was detained on Monday on charges of having embezzled funds from NYB's 2001-2003 regional budget, LP Mataram warden Lalu Junaidi said here on Tuesday.

Junaidi said Serinata refused to eat, drink, and even smoke in protest against what he described as "unfair treatment" by the provincial high prosecutor's office.

According to Junaidi, Serinata had also refused to be visited by Mataram Mayor Moh Ruslan and Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD) speaker H Suhaili FT.

"I don't want to eat nor drink, and I don't want anybody, including my family, to visit me," Junaidi quoted Serinata as saying.

Due to his hunger strike for almost 24 hours to date, Serinata's physical condition had weakened and therefore LP Mataram's doctor was continuously monitoring his health condition.

Serinata, who was Provincial Legislative Assembly chairman in the 1999-2004 period, was detained by the NTB high prosecutor's office in the Kasturi Room Block III of LP Mataram with 17 other detainees in relation with alleged corruption and misuse of the Assembly's funds from the regional budget in 2001-2002 and unexpected funds of Rp9 billion in 2003.

The former NTB governor was detained on Monday evening after being grilled for about five hours.