DETAINED FORMER NTB GOVERNOR DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL

Mataram, Nov 11 (ANTARA) - Having stayed at Bhayangkara hospital for intensive medical treatment for about 11 for 11 days, former West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Governor Lalu Serinata was discharged at 11:00 on Tuesday morning and sent back to Mataram penitentiary (LP Mataram).

From the hospital, a car from NTB high prosecution office took Serinata from the hospital to LP Mataram in the company of his lawyer, Rofik Ashari.

Asked about his health condition, Serinata refused to comment but shortly said, "Just ask the doctor."
The former NTB governor was detained on Monday, October 27, 2008, on charges of having embezzled funds from NYB's 2001-2003 regional budget. In protest of his arrest, he had since then been on hunger strike which eventually brought him to the hospital for medican treatment on November 1 after his health condition turned worse.

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 in the evening on October 27 after being grilled for about five hours.