Councillors to return funds to regental administration<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang<\/p>\n
Several members of the Tangerang regional council (DPRD) promised
\non Wednesday to return \"assistance\" fund packages worth Rp 37.5
\nmillion each that they had received in the regency's 2003 budget.<\/p>\n
The regental administration allocated the Rp 37.5 million
\npayouts to each of the 45 DPRD members to finance their
\nactivities, but the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), in its latest
\naudit report, considers the funds illegitimate.<\/p>\n
Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar has appealed to DPRD members
\nfor the 1999-2004 period to return the funds.<\/p>\n
Councillors Bahrul Ulum and Ozy Saeroji, who were reelected
\nfor the 2004-2009 period, said on Wednesday that they had
\nreceived a letter from the regent requesting them to return the
\nmoney soon.<\/p>\n
\"If we have to return the money as requested by the regent, we
\nmust be ready to give back the funds -- no problem,\" Bahrul and
\nOzy said.<\/p>\n
Former councillor Cecep Miharja said he was also ready to
\nreturn the money.<\/p>\n
\"I can return the money right now if necessary,\" the
\nbusinessman and former member of the Golkar faction at the
\ncouncil said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that although the instruction to return the money
\ncame from the BKP, the regental administration should first hold
\na meeting with all former councilors since it the payouts
\nconcerned the institution, not individuals.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a councillor, Anugrah, of the Prosperous Justice
\nParty (PKS) faction, said he had refused to take the package.<\/p>\n
\"I will explain to the regental Supervisory Body (Bawasda) and
\nprove to them that I did not take the money at all,\" he said.<\/p>\n
An audit by BPK uncovered irregular spending worth Rp 24.6
\nbillion (US$2.73 million) in the Tangerang regency in 2003.<\/p>\n
According to the agency, irregularities took place in 14
\noffices under the Tangerang regency administration.<\/p>\n
It also called on all councillors and administration officials
\ninvolved in budget misappropriations to return the money to city
\ncoffers within six months or face prosecution.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/councillors-to-return-funds-to-regental-administration-1447893297",
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