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)