Ancol scam may affect Sutiyoso's accountability

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso is risking a loss of confidence in the upcoming City Council plenary session to hear his accountability speech for dismissing the City Inspectorate's recommendation to remove two senior officials over the Ancol scandal, a councillor predicted on Wednesday.

Deputy chairman of the council's Commission A for administrative and legal affairs, M. Syarifien Maloko, said that due to his ignorance, Sutiyoso could be considered as violating his earlier commitment to upholding the law.

"The decision would adversely affect the council's response to his accountability speech," Syarifien of the Crescent Star Party said.

Syarifien praised City Inspector Hendarin Ono Saleh for recommending tough measures on the two senior officials -- City Development Agency head Bambang Sungkono and the City Land Agency chief Ahmadin Ahmad, who were among 11 city officials implicated in the scandal.

Hendarin has reportedly put in for early retirement following Sutiyoso's decision to let Bambang and Ahmadin off the hook.

But Hendarin denied the report on Wednesday. In a written statement issued by the city administration's public relations office, Hendarin said he had submitted his report on his office's investigation into the alleged scam to the governor.

"The following decision as a result of the investigation is in the hands of the governor," Hendarin said.

Hendarin could not be reached for elaboration.

Syarifien said Sutiyoso's decision to reject the inspectorate's recommendation would undermine the city inspectorate's existence.

"If a recommendation which is not in line with the governor's wish is rejected, the city inspectorate in effect no longer exists," he remarked.

He suggested the establishment of an independent agency in place of the city inspectorate, which could be the provincial chapter of the National Ombudsman Commission.

The scandal centered on overseas trips, termed a comparative study, conducted by 45 city officials and councillors to Japan, South Africa and Australia last October, which were financed by city-owned developer PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol (PJA).

There were 16 councillors, all members of the Commission D for development affairs, who took part in the trip, upon the invitation of PJA.

Some of those who visited Tokyo went on to Seoul and Hong Kong, although this was not part of their itinerary.

The 45 people reportedly received an allowance of Rp 50 million (US$5,000) taken from the city budget, despite the fact that they were already given a travel allowance of a similar amount by PJA.

Three councillors reportedly received the travel allowance even though they did not join the trip.

In a related development, the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office questioned five councillors on Wednesday in connection with the case.

The office's special crime assistant Andi Syarifuddin said the councillors were Muhayar of the Justice Party, Tjuk Sudono of the National Mandate Party, Maringan Pangaribuan and Bimo Hastoro of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and Dudi Sugiandi of the Indonesian Military/Police faction.

The overseas trips were made as PJA was planning to build a marine property project in Ancol, North Jakarta. (jun)