Team established to probe property mismanagement<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city municipality in cooperation with the
\nNational Land Agency has set up a special team to probe
\nmalfeasance that has led to the \"disappearance\" of several city
\nproperties, according to an official.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi told
\nreporters Saturday the team was due to investigate a series of
\ncases involving the undisclosed handover of some of the city's
\nassets.<\/p>\n
\"The team will investigate all the cases thoroughly and
\nquestion everyone allegedly involved,\" Kahfi said. He did not
\nelaborate on the number of team members or when the team was
\nfounded.<\/p>\n
Reports recently revealed several properties, ranging from
\nopen plots to buildings such as schools and houses, have been
\nsold to other parties by corrupt officials.<\/p>\n
The assets included the 2,187-square-meter plot on Jl.
\nMatraman which was \"owned\" by privately owned Bank Bira and a
\nschool located on 5,000-square-meters of land in Duri Kepa, West
\nJakarta, which was reportedly sold for Rp 7.5 billion (US$1.67
\nmillion) to a private company.<\/p>\n
\"We'll keep an open mind on this matter. Within the city's
\ntotal assets worth Rp 700 billion, there must be leakages here
\nand there. We can not be absolutely sure that all the assets can
\nbe saved,\" Kahfi said.<\/p>\n
He said the city would start relisting its properties and
\nthoroughly investigate the current status of the assets.<\/p>\n
\"We heard that many of our properties have been handed over to
\nsomeone else. We need to check this and prove it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kahfi promised to reveal the results of the investigation upon
\nits completion.<\/p>\n
\"And if some city officials are found guilty in these property
\ncases, we will punish them according to the existing laws,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso said his administration would trace all of
\nthe city's properties and pledged to return them all.<\/p>\n
\"Municipality assets can not be easily sold just because some
\nofficials try to gain personal benefits. It's state property. It
\nbelongs to the people. Therefore, we will take necessary action
\nto prevent it from falling into the wrong hands,\" he said Friday.<\/p>\n
He said the municipality would trace and list every city
\nproperty.<\/p>\n
\"Small or big ... we want it back where it is supposed to be.\"<\/p>\n
City councilors recently urged the city administration to
\npursue all of its assets to find out whether they still exist or
\nhave been illegally sold or handed over to other parties.<\/p>\n
Councilor Lukman Mokoginta from Commission D for development
\naffairs said the municipality should have asked for a
\nrecommendation from the City Council for any transactions of the
\nproperties.<\/p>\n
\"Whatever the transaction may be, councilors have a right to
\nknow because state assets have to be used for the sake of all
\npeople,\" Lukman said.<\/p>\n
He urged the municipality to settle the matter and find a way
\nto return the assets to the municipality.<\/p>\n
Councilor Saud Rachman agreed.<\/p>\n
\"It's ridiculous if the city can not control and supervise its
\nown property.<\/p>\n
\"I suggest that city officials settle the issue immediately
\nbefore it's too late, because the longer they neglect it, the
\nharder it will for them to trace the properties,\" he said. (edt)<\/p>",
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