Government to probe alleged corruption in KPU: Surjadi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja said
\nthe government would look into the alleged embezzlement of some
\nRp 117 billion by the General Elections Commission (KPU) during
\nlast year's general election.<\/p>\n
\"The government will certainly follow up in an objective
\nmanner the Supreme Audit Agency's report on results of its recent
\naudit on the election commission,\" Surjadi said.<\/p>\n
\"We are studying the report. If an embezzlement is found, all
\npersons involved in the case will be punished,\" he said on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
Leaked copies of the audit indicate a questionable and
\nunexplained spending of Rp 117 billion, partly from funds
\nprovided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).<\/p>\n
Surjadi said the election commission, as an independent
\ninstitution, should be made accountable and explain the
\ndiscrepancies in the audit agency's report.<\/p>\n
\"The KPU, as an agency, has a chairman and secretary-general.
\nThey must be made accountable for the alleged corruption,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Asked about the alleged involvement of Amur Muchasim, the
\nelection commission's former secretary-general, Surjadi said Amur
\nshould be one of the primary persons questioned about the
\nelection commission's expenditures.<\/p>\n
\"It could be that the election commission chairman (Rudini)
\nknew nothing about the alleged embezzlement, but the secretary-
\ngeneral should know about it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Amur is now secretary-general to the Ministry of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n
Adnan Buyung Nasution, the KPU deputy chairman, supported a
\nfull investigation into the allegations.<\/p>\n
\"We must thank the audit agency for its success in foiling
\ncorruption. Both the government and law enforcement institutions
\nshould look into it immediately,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that he had suspected some impropriety and
\neven called for an audit some time ago, however, it was rejected
\nby the commission chairman.<\/p>\n
\"It was strange to see several representatives of political
\nparties in the election commission filing a lawsuit against me
\nfor trying to reveal the alleged corruption. But they must
\nrealize now that what I did was right,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the case had tarnished the election commission's image
\nboth at home and overseas since a part of the elections' budget
\nwas received from foreign countries under the coordination of
\nUNDP.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said the House would also follow
\nup the audit agency's findings and would entrust the National
\nPolice and Attorney General's Office to investigate the report.<\/p>\n
\"I have yet to know the amount of allegedly embezzled funds in
\ndetail but the audit agency's report will be discussed in the
\nnext House leadership meeting,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said he was waiting for a
\nresponse from the House to audit the agency's report.<\/p>\n
\"I have heard about it but so far we have not received any
\nresponse from the President, the election commission and the
\nHouse,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said his office would check the reports as part of its
\nproactive response to the report to the institutions. (rms\/emf)<\/p>",
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