Councillor, official charged with graft as Poso refugees denied aid
Ruslan Sangadji, Palu
A councillor and a government official have been named as suspects in the embezzlement of Rp 10 billion (US$1.16 million) meant to aid about 5,000 refugee families in the strife-torn regency of Poso, Central Sulawesi.
The alleged embezzlement meant that each of 4,728 families did not receive Rp 2.5 million in aid that would have helped them return to their homes and begin rebuilding after two years of sectarian fighting that ended in late 2001.
The two suspects have been identified as Idris Tadji, a member of the Poso legislative council from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and Rustam, an official in the local social welfare office.
They pair are being detained at the Poso Police station where they are undergoing intensive questioning. Idris was arrested last Saturday and Rustam a month ago.
"Soon after we took him (Idris) into custody, he fainted. So we were forced to send him to a hospital," Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Abdi Dharma Sitepu said on Thursday.
He alleged the councillor was meant to play a key role in distributing aid to the refugees, but instead used the aid to enrich himself.
Idris was charged after 15 witnesses told police investigators that he embezzled the money, Poso Police chief of detectives Adj. Comr. Slamet Widodo said.
He said that Idris, who served as the coordinator of aid distribution for the three subdistricts of South, East and North Pamona, submitted at least 160 fictitious names over the course of his work distributing aid.
The councillor is also suspected of stealing Rp 200,000 of the money given to each family entitled to aid, Slamet said.
"We are charging him (Idris) under Article 23 of Law No. 31/1999 and Article 12(e) of Law No. 20/2001 on corruption," the officer said.
Rustam, who worked in the aid distribution scheme, is accused of colluding with Idris in the graft case.
Though he has only been in the Poso social welfare office a relatively short time, Rustam reportedly has bought a new Kijang van and built two new houses in Palu, Central Sulawesi.
Amrullah Sia, head of the Poso people's protection agency, said at least 4,728 refugee families had yet to receive government aid.
From the Rp 10 billion in government assistance, each family should have received Rp 2.5 million.
Amrullah said the refugees did not receive assistance because they were living in camps outside of Poso when the aid was distributed, so they were never listed as recipients.
However, Amrullah said he had met with Poso Regent Abdul Muin Pusadan and the coordinating minister for people's welfare to discuss aid distribution for the victims.
It was agreed that the families would receive assistance before the end of this year at the latest, Amrullah said.
Poso experienced a wave of religious violence in 2000 and 2001, which left some 2,000 people dead and forced hundreds of thousands of others to flee their homes.
The violence largely ended after Muslim and Christian leaders signed a peace accord in December 2001, though sporadic attacks blamed on unidentified gunmen have continued.