Scholarship scandal being probed<\/p>\n
Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung<\/p>\n
Wati, 45, a widow with two children, was elated when her son
\nSholeh reported to her that he would be the recipient of a
\nscholarship.<\/p>\n
As a poor laundry worker, Wati was happy that Sholeh, a senior
\nhigh school student, would receive Rp 35,000 (US$3.50) a month
\nfrom the Lampung Education Office.<\/p>\n
\"The money will help ease my burden,\" said Wati, who earns
\nabout Rp 200,000 a month doing her neighbors' laundry.<\/p>\n
Her relief, however, was short-lived. As the months went by,
\nno more was said about the scholarship and Sholeh graduated from
\nsenior high school this year without receiving a cent. It was
\nlater revealed that 4,300 \"scholarship\" students from 400 schools
\nin Lampung received no financial assistance.<\/p>\n
The scholarship funds intended for students from elementary to
\nsenior high school were allegedly embezzled by education
\nofficials in the province.<\/p>\n
The two officials -- Deni Fitriana, the project leader and
\nTria Arizona, the treasurer -- have been held in Way Hui
\nPenitentiary, South Lampung since they were questioned by
\nprosecutors from Lampung Prosecutor's Office over the case. The
\ntwo had been named suspects in the case for allegedly embezzling
\nstate funds amounting to Rp 2.47 billion (US$247,000).<\/p>\n
The funds should have been channeled last year to the 4,300
\nstudents, said Maryono, the chief of prosecutors investigating
\nthe case. Maryono said that the money had been diverted to the
\npersonal bank accounts of Deni Fitriana and Tria Arizona.<\/p>\n
However, the case is but one of several graft cases being
\nprobed by Lampung prosecutors. The prosecutors are currently
\ninvestigating a project aimed at improving the quality of Lampung
\nsenior high school education worth Rp 16.8 billion, a project
\naimed at upgrading Lampung's junior high school buildings worth
\nRp 19.5 billion and other projects.<\/p>\n
The corruption in the Lampung Education Office is not new. In
\n2002, the Bandarlampung District Court sentenced Merayu Sukma,
\nthe chief of Lampung Education Office, to two years' imprisonment
\nfor corruption. Sukma was sent to prison for embezzling funds
\nintended for the purchase of equipment for Lampung schools worth
\nRp 1.1 billion. Two years later, Sutoto, who replaced Merayu, was
\nalso sentenced for corruption worth over Rp 13 billion. He was
\naccused of having embezzled funds for the purchase of text books
\nfor students.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/scholarship-scandal-being-probed-1447893297",
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