BPK report shows how corruption rules in RI<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Reports of misuse and alleged corruption of state funds by the
\nSupreme Audit Agency (BPK) last week were perhaps the clearest
\nindication that the die-hard practice of graft could now be
\ncalled a die-hard institution.<\/p>\n
The BPK reported to the House of Representatives last week it
\nhad discovered irregularities of Rp 37.4 trillion (US$4.1
\nbillion) in 377 state institutions from 2002 until the first
\nsemester of this year. The huge amount is equal to more than 63
\npercent of the government fuel subsidy this year.<\/p>\n
And most shockingly -- but unsurprisingly -- the body
\nresponsible for overseeing the nation's judiciary, the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office (AGO), topped the list with the highest
\npercentage of irregularities, about 51.8 percent of Rp 618.7
\nbillion audited within the office.<\/p>\n
This is not the first time the office has topped such a
\nnotorious list. It was named the biggest \"money abuser\" last
\nyear, with the BPK reporting the misuse of 95 percent of Rp 11.99
\nbillion of non-taxable funds in the office.<\/p>\n
The BPK has long been reporting similar findings for years. It
\ndisclosed Rp 12 trillion worth of financial irregularities in the
\nimplementation of the state budget in 1999.<\/p>\n
The agency found 1,076 cases of irregularities in the 2001
\nstate budget with potential losses of trillions of rupiah, mostly
\nin state-owned enterprises. These enterprises were reported to
\nhave misused a staggering Rp 87 trillion of state funds in 2000.<\/p>\n
Yet, despite the consecutive negative reports by the agency,
\nanalysts and officials say no one in power seems to be able or
\nwilling to seek solutions to the problem, with investigations
\npetering out and few officials brought to justice.<\/p>\n
Agency chairman Satrio \"Billy\" Joedono has complained during
\nmany occasions about the reluctance of the government in
\nfollowing up on the reports, with a sluggish and half-hearted
\nresponse from the House, National Police and the AGO.<\/p>\n
These reports often end up being shelved without proper
\ninquiries or court action resulting. Accused institutions
\ngenerally refute the BPK's reports and cases stop abruptly.<\/p>\n
Billy reported last year that of the 5,881 cases causing over
\nRp 2 trillion in possible state losses previously reported, only
\n155 cases worth Rp 6.5 billion had been settled.<\/p>\n
Many suspects of corruption offenses have also escaped legal
\nsanctions.<\/p>\n
Even after anti-corruption demonstrations broke out following
\nthe fall of former president Soeharto's regime six years ago and
\nthe much-vaunted reform movement came to power, legal enforcement
\nhas not improved, analysts say.<\/p>\n
Of all the reform agendas steadfastly pledged by Soeharto's
\nsuccessors -- including the likely president-elect Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono -- the willingness to properly follow-up BPK reports,
\nis essential.<\/p>\n
A BPK report issued early this year, found irregularities of
\nmore than Rp 26 billion in 2003 at the Office of the Coordinating
\nMinister for Political and Security Affairs, led by Susilo at the
\ntime.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis said one of the main reasons why
\nmany state agencies easily dismissed BPK reports was the
\ndifference in auditing methods between those agencies and the
\nBPK.<\/p>\n
\"The government should seek one standardized auditing method
\nto avoid such a denial and discrepancy of audit results in the
\nfuture. We can't let such a thing become a reason,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post over the weekend.<\/p>\n
The reports should be the prime basis for the government in
\nprobing leakages of state funds,\" he said<\/p>\n
But to effectively do this, there needed to be a shift in the
\nmindset in the government officials.<\/p>\n
\"The next government must seriously verify and cross-check BPK
\nreports or investigate them and we must never ignore such
\nreports.<\/p>\n
\"Making those reports is very expensive,\" he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bpk-report-shows-how-corruption-rules-in-ri-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }