Council probed over alleged markup<\/p>\n
Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau<\/p>\n
The Batam Prosecutor's Office is investigating an alleged markup
\non 45 Pentium IV desktop computers allocated to the Batam
\nLegislative Council (DPRD II) last year, a senior prosecutor said
\non Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The head of special crimes at the office, Bambang Setyadi,
\nsaid his team would question immediately officials of the
\nlegislative secretariat, telecommunications giant Indonesian
\nSatellite Corporation (PT Indosat Tbk) as procurer of the
\ncomputers and those Batam councillors allegedly involved in the
\nRp 2.1 billion (US$250,000) scandal.<\/p>\n
\"We have just assigned several of our staff members to collect
\ndata from the Batam DPRD secretariat and the procurement
\ncontractor. Pak Yasin (a council member) has also been contacted
\nfor information, as he was the first to reveal his suspicions of
\nthe irregularity,\" Bambang told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Bambang was referring to Muhammad Yasin from the National
\nMandate Party (PAN) faction, who questioned the accountability
\nspeech given in early April by Batam Mayor Nyat Kadir.<\/p>\n
When contacted separately, Yasin said his suspicion was raised
\nover the value of the project recorded in the accountability
\nspeech, as the price of the computers were above normal.<\/p>\n
He became more suspicious after checking the price of a
\nPentium IV at various computer shops in Batam and found that the
\naverage price of a desktop computer of that type was only Rp 7
\nmillion per unit. According to this price, then the project
\nshould cost only Rp 315 million for 45 Pentiums.<\/p>\n
The mayor's accountability report set the value of the project
\nat Rp 2.1 billion, or seven times the normal price.<\/p>\n
Aside from the alleged graft, the project has also violated a
\nPresidential Decree, as any projects worth more than Rp 150
\nmillion must conduct an open tender, said Yasin.<\/p>\n
Instead, the Batam legislative secretariat had directly
\nappointed PT Indosat as procurer, he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the secretary of the Batam legislative council,
\nSaid Aqil Alatas, said he was ready to be examined in connection
\nwith the procurement project, declaring that there was no
\ncorruption. He said the project was a staggering Rp 2.1 billion
\nbecause the price also included the costs of training, networking
\nand setting up a Website for the legislative council.<\/p>\n
PT Indosat Riau Islands manager Respati Nugroho ruled out any
\ncorruption in the project. He said the value of the project had
\nexpanded to Rp 2.1 billion because aside from the desktops, it
\nwas also used to procure other hardware, such as printers, and
\nsoftware such as a licensed e-mail application and a Cisco
\nnetwork security system.<\/p>",
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