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)