City officials ordered to reveal foreign assets

City officials ordered to reveal foreign assets

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso has asked his subordinates in
the city administration to report their foreign assets when they
declare their wealth to the Public Servants' Wealth Audit
Commission (KPKPN).

The governor went even further by requiring all officials
under his auspices to report the wealth belonging to their
families and people closely related to them through marriage.

"All their assets, including those of their sons, daughters,
sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, should be reported," he told
reporters after a meeting with KPKPN member Anwar Sanusi at the
City Hall on Wednesday.

Sutiyoso asserted that he would impose administrative
sanctions on city officials who failed to declare all their
wealth and assets to the new state agency.

The governor was commenting on a previous statement made by
Anwar, who said it was mandatory for all officials, including
Governor Sutiyoso and his subordinates, to register their foreign
assets with KPKPN.

Anwar, who came to the City Hall to promote the commission's
ongoing program, expected that the general public, including non-
governmental organizations, would inform KPKPN if they knew of
certain officials in possession of foreign assets who did not
declare them.

Rumors have been circulating in the City Hall that some chiefs
of city agencies had properties abroad. An official, who was
among those implicated in the controversial overseas trip funded
by Ancol recreation park operator, reportedly owns two houses in
the U.S. and Australia.

The foreign properties, mostly houses, are usually inhabited
by the officials' children who are studying abroad, while some
other houses are rented.

Neither Sutiyoso nor city spokesman Muhayat would comment on
the reports.

None of 181 state officials whose wealth has been announced by
KPKPN so far, including President Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, House of Representatives
Speaker Akbar Tandjung and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker
Amien Rais, declared that they were in possession of foreign
properties.

Sutiyoso said he believed that KPKPN would be able to track
the wealth of city officials, thanks to its skillful and
competent members.

"The commission members cannot easily be deceived. They
comprise professionals, who include former police and military
officers, legal experts and accountants," he said.

Anwar said 207 city officials would have to submit their list
of assets to KPKPN immediately after they received the forms on
March 28. Hundreds more officials, including city councilllors,
will follow.

But Muhayat said the submission would be made only one month
after Anwar's visit at the latest.

KPKPN is facing a further obstacle as city councillors have
refused to complete the forms on grounds they were not part of
the officials supposed to be subject to the audit. (jun)