Jakarta councillors questioned over Ancol scam<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Prosecutor's Office questioned three
\ncity councillors, including the council's deputy speaker Tarmidi
\nSuhardjo, on Wednesday in connection with their controversial
\noverseas trips last year.<\/p>\n
Spokesperson for the prosecutor's office Seremita Purba said
\nTarmidi Suhardjo and two other councillors Tarmidi Edy Suwarno
\nand Ali Imran Husein were grilled from 10 a.m until evening by
\nfour prosecutors.<\/p>\n
\"Several questions centered on travel allowances they received
\nalthough they did not join the trips,\" Seremita said.<\/p>\n
She said her office expected to complete the investigation
\ninto the case next week.<\/p>\n
\"By the end of this investigation, we hope that we can name
\nthe suspects,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Tarmidi Suhardjo and Tarmidi Edy Suwarno are from the majority
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) while
\nAli Imran is from the United Development Party (PPP). The three
\nearlier claimed that they had returned the travel allowances.<\/p>\n
Four more councillors will face questioning in the case,
\nnamely City Council speaker Edy Waluyo and FX Marsiadi of the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI)\/Police faction; Zayadi Musa of PPP; and
\nTotok Ismunandar of PDI Perjuangan.<\/p>\n
Financed by the city-owned developer PT Pembangunan Jaya
\nAncol, 45 city officials and councillors joined a seven-day trip
\nlast October to three different destinations: Australia, Japan
\nand South Africa.<\/p>\n
Those who went to Japan continued their tour to South Korea
\nand Hong Kong although it was never scheduled.<\/p>\n
Besides reportedly receiving travel allowances from the
\ncompany of between US$5,000 and US$10,000, the councillors
\nreceived Rp 52 million (US$5,200) each taken from the 2000 City
\nBudget.<\/p>\n
The councillors are members of the Council's Commission D for
\ndevelopment affairs. They were invited by the company which was
\nseeking the council's approval of its marine property project in
\nAncol, North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
City Inspector Hendarin Ono Saleh earlier recommended that
\nGovernor Sutiyoso punish the 11 officials who joined the trips.
\nWhile nine of them were handed administrative sanctions, the city
\ndevelopment agency chief Bambang Sungkono and the city planning
\nagency head Ahmaddin Ahmad, who both were invited on the foreign
\ntours, were not given any punishment. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-councillors-questioned-over-ancol-scam-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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