Graft makes the poor suffer<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The socially disadvantaged of this city will bear the brunt of
\ncorruption occurring in this year's budget as most of the money
\nalleged to have been misappropriated was earmarked for the
\ndestitute, a state agency has said.<\/p>\n
According to data from the City Audit Agency, which was
\nobtained by the media over the weekend, some Rp 860 million of
\nthe estimated Rp 4.8 billion (US$533,333) pinched from the budget
\nwas allegedly embezzled by two doctors at city-owned Budhi Asih
\nHospital in the Setiabudi area of South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The agency's report, signed by deputy chairman Syarifuddin
\nMahfudz, stated that the Rp 860 million was allocated for
\nunderprivileged patients in the area and the victims of
\nFebruary's floods.<\/p>\n
The agency has urged that the money be returned and
\nrecommended that the doctors, identified by the agency as Erni
\nand Rosenita, be sanctioned.<\/p>\n
The agency report said that Cawang subdistrict head Abdul
\nRahman was caught selling donated rice, worth Rp 149 million, to
\nflood victims in the subdistrict of East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The agency demanded that Rahman return the money and further
\nrecommended that Governor Sutiyoso dismiss him.<\/p>\n
In addition to Rahman, an official of Cempaka Putih
\nsubdistrict, Central Jakarta, identified as Adnan Darsono, was
\ncaught bringing food earmarked for flood victims in the
\nsubdistrict, to Bekasi, the agency said.<\/p>\n
After an investigation headed by the agency, Darsono returned
\nthe rice, however, it is unclear how much was returned, and the
\nagency has recommended that Darsono be sanctioned.<\/p>\n
The administration allocated this year Rp 251 billion for
\nflood victims, which included food donations and a flood
\nrehabilitation program.<\/p>\n
About Rp 4.5 billion, collected during a charity night for
\nflood victims, was reportedly embezzled by the ICE on Indonesia,
\na non-governmental organization (NGO), which had been designated
\nby Sutiyoso to distribute the fund, the agency reported.<\/p>\n
Another Rp 484 million allocated for the City Park Agency
\nfound its way into the pockets of 19 officials at the city's five
\nmayoralties, the agency reported.<\/p>\n
Some Rp 86 million has been repaid while the remaining Rp 398
\nmillion, earmarked for the development of public parks, has not
\nbeen returned yet, the agency said.<\/p>\n
Besides losing out on more public parks, residents may face
\ngarbage problems this year as some Rp 149 million destined for
\nthe purchase of 10 incinerators has also disappeared.<\/p>\n
The chairwoman of City Council Commission C for city revenue,
\nAnna Rudhiantina, urged Sutiyoso to hand out stiff punishment to
\nthose responsible for taking public funds.<\/p>\n
"Not only should the funds be returned, but the officials
\nshould be dismissed or taken to court," Anna of the Golkar Party
\nsaid during the council's year-end conference.<\/p>\n
Many councillors also believe that total funds taken from the
\ncurrent Rp 10.6 trillion city budget amount to more than Rp 4.8
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
It is not clear whether Sutiyoso has punished the officials
\nresponsible for allegedly embezzling funds. Last year, several
\ncivil servants were dismissed for similar reasons, but most were
\nlow-ranking officials. High-ranking officials remain untouched,
\nand none were sent to court.<\/p>",
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