45 councillors face graft investigation

45 councillors face graft investigation

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The Tangerang Prosecutor's Office will investigate a Rp 12.5
billion (US$1.47 million) corruption case in which 45 city
councillors have been implicated.

The plan to investigate the councillors is based on a report
filed by non-governmental organization Independent Institute for
State Apparatus Monitoring (Lipan).

The head of the prosecutor's office, Nandy Warsidi, confirmed
on Monday that his office had just received the report.

"We will examine the report carefully and if we find any
indications of criminal activity, then we will immediately form a
team to investigate the deviation," Nandy told The Jakarta Post.

Lipan's report suggests that councillors marked up the
allocation of funds for the council in the last two city budgets.

They allege that last year's budget was marked up Rp 4 billion
and this year's Rp 8.5 billion.

"We reported this violation of People's Consultative Assembly
Decree No. XI and Law No.20/1999 on state freedom from
corruption, collusion and nepotism," said the head of Lipan,
Tatang Sago.

He said the 2002 and 2003 city budgets also violated
Governmental Regulation No. 110/2000 on regional finance.

According to Lipan, the council's mark up was 100 percent more
than their real needs during the two years.

The head of the City Council's budget commission, TB Busro,
refused to comment on this issue.

"About the budget, you should ask the administration," said
Busro.

One member of the City Council, Burhanuddin, said he was
unaware of the issue and was therefore unable to comment.