Corruption group slam Riau governor for fraud

Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau

Riau Corruption Watch (RCW) said on Monday that it had reported to President Megawati Soekarnoputri alleged corruption in the Rp 5.2 billion renovation project of the Riau Governor Saleh Djasid's official residence.

RCW coordinator Firdaus Basir said the companies appointed to renovate the house -- C.V. Sakti Bangun Kencana and P.T. Bina Bumi Riau -- were chosen without a transparent tender process.

"Besides, the renovation cost is unbelievable. We also do not see any urgent need to renovate the residence despite the Governor claiming it was an emergency," Firdaus told The Jakarta Post.

Saleh said earlier that the two companies were directly appointed due to the emergency nature of the renovation project.

The renovation started on June 23 with restoration of the 2,830 square-meter house at a cost Rp 3.2 billion. The upgrade of the 550 square meters of gate and fence cost Rp 580 million, while the landscaping of the 60,000 square meter garden apparently cost Rp 1.4 billion.

"The project is full of anomalies. They say the renovation work is already completed but the landscaped garden is nowhere to be found," said Firdaus, adding that there was no water source or drainage network and the grass was already dying.

The Riau Resettlement and Infrastructure office said that it was too difficult to carry out a tender process as the house was in a very poor condition and needed quick renovation.

The decision to renovate the official residence was made in accordance with article 12.b. of Presidential Decree No. 18/2000, the office said in a statement. It did not elaborate.

Firdaus said the Pekanbaru Court had granted RCW's request on Aug. 13 to hold a field inspection to prove its accusations over the alleged misuse of the funds.

But, the same court nullified its decision on Aug. 28 on the grounds that a field inspection had nothing to do with RCW's request for the project to be halted.

"This is a bizarre ruling. It is the same court that grants and nullifies the request. I have reported this case to the Supreme Court, the President, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, and the House of Representatives. If there is no response from them, I'm afraid this case will set a precedent for other government projects," Firdaus said.