Activists protest over alleged swindle

BOGOR (JP): Dozens of locals grouped under the Corruption Eradication Movement or Gebrak staged a protest at the Bogor Municipality on Monday demanding the mayor probe an alleged swindle in the distribution of hundreds of tons of rice in market operations in South Bogor.

"We want the mayor to take firm action against the official who ripped off the rice, which was supposed to be distributed to the people," the group yelled.

The locals accused former South Bogor district chief Yus Herdiyus of selling the rice for Rp 1,250 to Rp 1,500 per kilogram instead of Rp 1,000 as regulated by the administration.

The people also accused Yus, who is now spokesman of the Bogor mayoralty, of selling the rice in liters and not kilograms.

As they failed to meet with Bogor Mayor Iswara Natanegara, the protesters then marched their way to the council building where they had their session with councillor Eman Sulaeman of the Commission E for welfare affairs.

Eman, who is also chairman of the commission, vowed to take the matter to the local administration. "If the allegations are proven to be true, we will demand that Yus be given proper punishment," Eman said.

Eman also said that the mayor had already made plans for Yus as the latter would be removed from his current position.

"The mayor has also suggested that Yus be demoted," he said.

Yus, however, strongly denied the allegation.

"I never sold the rice at a higher price. If we did so, the people will soon find out and react strongly against it.

"As for the measurement, it's true that we sold the rice in liters and not in kilograms, because there was a lack of scales.

"And that decision was made in a discussion between the locals and non-governmental organizations, which monitored the rice distribution," Yus said.

Yus also said that the rice from the National Logistic Agency (Bulog) was lighter than the actual weight.

"It said that each sack of rice contained 50 kilograms but when we weighed it again, the rice was only between 45 to 48 kilograms," he said. The case is still being investigated by the local administration. (21/24/edt)