PT Ancol official dismissed over financial scandal<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President director of PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol
\n(PJA) Rushadi has paid a dear price for allowing the company to
\nsponsor overseas trips for a group of city councillors and
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
An extraordinary shareholders meeting of PJA, which is partly
\nowned by the city administration, on Wednesday evening decided to
\nhonorarily dismiss Rushadi.<\/p>\n
Head of the City Economy Development Office Dameria Saragih
\nannounced on Thursday that the meeting also named property
\ndirector Jahja Bambang Riabudi as acting president director.<\/p>\n
Dameria said the decision was based on the results of a
\nfinancial audit on the overseas trips conducted by public
\naccountant Prasetio Utomo & Co.<\/p>\n
\"It was found in the audit that the management of the Ancol
\nleisure complex developer had exceeded its budget and disbursed
\nfunds to finance overseas trips without the consent of both its
\nshareholders and chief commissioner,\" Dameria told a media
\nconference at the City Hall.<\/p>\n
When asked about the replacement of Governor Sutiyoso from his
\ncurrent position as the company's chief commissioner, Dameria
\nsaid the issue would be decided on in the next extraordinary
\nshareholders meeting, scheduled for Feb. 23.<\/p>\n
Dameria was referring to the 1999 Law No. 22 on regional
\nautonomy which bans a governor from playing a role in a decision
\nmaking process in companies owned by his or her province.<\/p>\n
However, she would not comment on the legal consequences of
\nRushadi's role in the scandal.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Prosecutors' Office has begun its formal
\ninvestigation into the case, with the city's top two executives
\n-- Sutiyoso and City Secretary Fauzi Bowo -- set to head the list
\nof people to face questioning.<\/p>\n
Administrative measures have also been imposed on nine city
\nofficials who joined the trips, mostly low-ranking ones. They
\nwere found guilty of making a trip without the governor's
\napproval.<\/p>\n
According to a recent circular issued by the Ministry of Home
\nAffairs and Regional Autonomy, every overseas trip conducted by
\ncity officials requires presidential or state secretariat
\napproval.<\/p>\n
The request letter must be submitted to the Ministry of Home
\nAffairs and Regional Autonomy at least three months in advance.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a source close to PJA said that Rushadi challenged
\nhis dismissal, citing the unfinished investigation conducted by
\nthe City Prosecutor' Office.<\/p>\n
Rushadi, the source who requested anonymity said, would take
\nlegal actions to restore his name.<\/p>\n
The overseas trips drew controversy due to allegations that
\nPJA paid Rp 2.1 billion to fund comparative studies trips between
\nOct. 9 and Oct. 15 to Cape Town and Johannesburg, Sydney, and
\nTokyo.<\/p>\n
In its investigation report submitted to the governor, the
\nCity Inspectorate stated that Rushadi had proposed to the
\ngovernor a US$270,000 budget for the trips in which he also took
\npart. Without waiting for the governor's approval, Rushadi
\ndisbursed $311.286.<\/p>\n
The report said the fund was taken from the company's 2000
\nbudget set for its coastal reclamation master plan.<\/p>\n
It also said PJA also funded the expenditures of 13 officials
\nwho joined the overseas trips.<\/p>\n
The City Inspectorate also found that the City Council paid on
\nDec. 4 last year Rp 1.36 billion in reimbursement to the company.
\n(07)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pt-ancol-official-dismissed-over-financial-scandal-1447893297",
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