City still allocates Rp 1b for Korpri

City still allocates Rp 1b for Korpri

JAKARTA (JP): The city budget for the 2001 fiscal year
allocates Rp 1 billion as a donation to the city chapter of the
Indonesian Civil Servants Association (Korpri), despite
allegations that the organization's executives have
misappropriated Rp 4.3 billion (US$390,909), a former official
said on Tuesday.

Former chairman of the social and political division at
Korpri's city chapter Nasrul Idris said the fund was channeled
under the city secretariat's expenditure.

"The fund for Korpri was no longer explicitly mentioned in the
2001 City Budget as City Councillors earlier agreed to stop
financing the association, which is no longer part of the
administration," Nasrul said.

City spokesman Muhayat admitted that the city secretariat
keeps financial aid for the civil servants association to run its
programs.

"But it's no longer taken from the city budget as stipulated
a few years ago," Muhayat said.

He would not disclose the amount of the fund.

"The programs which have been financially supported by the
city secretariat concern the development of human resources and
empowerment," Muhayat said.

Nasrul had earlier made the accusation that Korpri's city
chapter had misused funds collected from the city administration
between 1997 and 2000 for "unclear and factious activities".

He reported to the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office on Thursday
Korpri's city chapter chairman Zaenal Arifin, who is also the
city's administrative assistant, and the association's treasurer,
Rengsita Panjaitan, in connection with the alleged graft.

The City Inspectorate earlier announced that it found
irregularities in Korpri's city chapter last year, which resulted
in Rp 38 million in losses.

The inspectorate then punished 11 officials, including Nasrul,
for the misuse of funds.

Nasrul said on Tuesday that he expected the City Police would
question him soon over the case.

"I will tell the truth with all the evidence I have," he said.
(jun)