The Jakarta Post, August 10, 2004
Major graft cases probed in Maluku
M. Azis Tunny, Ambon
The Maluku Development and Finance Audit Body (BPKP) is set to investigate three
major corruption cases, which caused tens of billions of rupiah in losses to the
province.
Maluku BPKP head Mohammad Chusein said on Monday the investigations would
begin this week and promised to report the results to the Maluku High Prosecutor's
Office.
There were possibilities that the three graft cases would be handed over to the
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in Jakarta for further investigation, he
added.
The three cases to be investigated include alleged irregularities in the use of Rp 18
billion (US$2 million) in assistance funds allocated for the resettlement of refugees
across Maluku.
Another case is the alleged embezzlement of Rp 10 billion in funds earmarked for a
city development project in the Maluku capital of Ambon.
The third case is the alleged misuse of funds from Maluku's regional original revenue
at two fish export quality-assessment laboratories in Ambon and Tual in Southeast
Maluku.
Chusein said the probes were recommended by Maluku Governor Karel Albert
Ralahalu, who recently sent a letter to the province's BPKP.
The planned investigations would involve the Maluku administration supervisory board
(Bawasda), Chusein said. "So, this task is given by the governor to be followed up,"
he told The Jakarta Post.
Chusein said that BPKP officials would gather data and information from the field as
part of the investigation process.
"We will visit refugees to collect evidence. If they say they never received funds to
return to their homes, it means there are violations," he added.
The refugees concerned are those who fled three years of sectarian fighting between
Muslims and Christians since early 1999, during which some 6,000 people were
killed.
The conflict ended after local Muslim and Christian leaders signed a peace deal in
2001, brokered by the central government. Sporadic attacks carried out by
unidentified people hit Ambon several times but did not provoke renewed clashes.
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
