Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has approved the dismissal of a district chief who divorced his second wife via a mobile text message after marrying her for only four days, a minister said today.

Aceng Fikri, head of Garut district in West Java province, divorced his 18-year-old wife Fanny Octora four days after their marriage in July, saying she was not a virgin as she claimed to be.

His move sparked days of street protests and prompted the local legislature to hold a hearing to recommend his dismissal on the grounds that his marriage was illegal because it was not registered and lacked the approval of the first wife.

“The president has signed the letter approving the dismissal of Aceng Fikri,” Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi said.

Following the divorce, Octora lodged a complaint with police, saying that Fikri had deceived her by falsely claiming he had divorced his first wife to lure her into marrying him.

- dpa