Funds leakage probed in Riau Islands<\/p>\n
Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru<\/p>\n
Several top officials from the Riau Islands regency
\nadministration, including Regent Huzrin Hood, have been
\nimplicated in the disappearance of Rp 87.2 billion from the
\nregency's 2001 budget.<\/p>\n
The chief of the government prosecutor's office in Pekanbaru,
\nMoch Huzaini, said that so far seven officials had been
\ninterrogated but none had been held as suspects.<\/p>\n
The seven officials were Amin Muchtar, an assistant to the
\nregent on administrative affairs, administration secretary Andi
\nRivai Siregar, Azhar Yunus, Agus Riyanto and Aris Munandar, all
\nthree from the local settlement and infrastructure office,
\nAmiruddin, secretary of the regency legislature and Mursal
\nMuchdar, chief of the administration's financial affairs.<\/p>\n
Huzaini said Agus Azhar, chief of the local resettlement and
\ninfrastructure office, was interrogated in connection with a
\nfictitious road repair project worth Rp 7 billion in Singkep
\nsubdistrict.<\/p>\n
Riyanto and Munandar, who are known to be close to Hood, were
\ninvestigated because both were directly involved in the
\nfictitious project.<\/p>\n
Huzaini said further that his office's investigation would
\nfocus on the regional administration secretary and Hood himself,
\nbecause all expenditure and income were paid and received with
\nthe knowledge of the two officials.<\/p>\n
He said he could say nothing about the investigation because
\nit has yet to be completed.<\/p>\n
He vowed to be transparent and objective in carrying out the
\ninvestigation.<\/p>\n
The scandal was raised when the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK)
\npresented its audit of the administration two months ago. The
\nregent has rejected several invitations by the legislative
\ncouncil to discuss the BPK's findings.<\/p>\n
The funds were allegedly used by the regent to seek political
\nsupport from the local people and the House of Representatives to
\ndevelop the Riau archipelago, including Batam and Natuna, and to
\nseparate from Riau to form a new province.<\/p>\n
The central government has decided to postpone the proposed
\nformation of the new province following objections from the
\nNatuna and the Riau provincial administration.<\/p>\n
Mursal Muchdar conceded that he had been interrogated in
\nconnection with the alleged corruption but declined to give
\nfurther elaboration.<\/p>\n
\"I'm sorry, I can't give comment now,\" he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/funds-leakage-probed-in-riau-islands-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }