West Java corruption cases worth Rp 466b<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung<\/p>\n
West Java may be the province worst hit by corruption this year,
\nwith a local antigraft watchdog announcing that at least 111
\ncases worth Rp 466 billion (US$52 million) occurred between
\nJanuary and June.<\/p>\n
West Java Corruption Watch (WJCW) coordinator Harlans M.
\nFachra said the data was based on reports he received from the
\npublic and the local and national mass media.<\/p>\n
The announcement, he said, was made to solicit public
\nparticipation in eradicating corruption in the country's most
\npopulous province.<\/p>\n
\"We want to give a picture of how much money has been stolen.
\nIt is high time for the public to demand and fight for their
\nrights,\" Harlans said on Monday in the provincial capital of
\nBandung.<\/p>\n
The most prominent corruption case, which caused the most
\nlosses to the state, was the alleged embezzlement of more than Rp
\n200 billion in reforestation funds that was reported by the
\nNational Corruption Monitoring Committee (Konstan) to the
\nAttorney General's Office earlier this year.<\/p>\n
The scam, allegedly involved state-owned forestry company PT
\nPerhutani Unit III for West Java, which was tasked with
\nreforesting areas in the province between 1993 and 2003.<\/p>\n
However, none of the suspects were convicted and prosecutors
\nsay the case is still under investigation, Harlans said.<\/p>\n
He said the recorded 111 graft cases were committed in 16
\nregencies and municipalities throughout West Java.<\/p>\n
Among other cases were the alleged misappropriation of funds
\nfrom the provincial budget by administration officials and
\nlegislative council members, and the theft of assistance funds
\nallocated to provide the poor with free rice.<\/p>\n
Other graft cases included the misuse of funds allocated to
\nrenovate elementary school buildings and alms for mosques and
\nmarriage fees by officials at local religious affairs offices.<\/p>\n
\"Most of the cases in West Java have involved the misuse of
\nbudgets at provincial, regental and municipal levels, amounting
\nto more than Rp 61.7 billion,\" said Harlans.<\/p>\n
The budget misappropriations, he said, were committed
\ncollectively by government officials and legislative council
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
\"This proves that good governance -- free of corruption,
\ncollusion and nepotism (KKN) -- is still a long way off, as the
\nbody controlling the provincial budget has no sense of justice,\"
\nHarlans said.<\/p>\n
He said the WJCW plans to visit the West Java Prosecutor's
\nOffice on June 30 to question the sluggish investigations of
\ncorruption cases in the province.<\/p>\n
During the visit, the anticorruption watchdog intends to
\npressure both prosecutors and courts to expedite the legal
\nprocess of the cases, to boost public confidence in the
\nestablishment of a good and clean government.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/west-java-corruption-cases-worth-rp-466b-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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