Councillors support Nasrul's testimony over Rp 4.3b graft

JAKARTA (JP): City councillors came to the defense on Monday of Nasrul Idrus, a former executive of the city's Indonesian Civil Servants Corps (Korpri) who disclosed a Rp 4.3 billion (US$430,000) scandal allegedly originating in the organization's executive board.

Councillor Posman Siahaan said he regretted Governor Sutiyoso's statement that Nasrul made the allegation because he was a frustrated employee.

"People like Nasrul, who dare to reveal corruption in the administration, should be supported," Posman, who is the chief of the Indonesian Unity and Justice Party faction at the council, said.

He accused Sutiyoso of trying to frighten Nasrul and, perhaps, other civil servants, to prevent them from disclosing irregularities in the administration.

Posman challenged Korpri's executive board to make good on its threat of filing a slander complaint against Nasrul with the city police.

"By reporting the case to the police, we will find out the truth," Posman said.

Without going into detail, Posman expressed his confidence that Nasrul's allegation was factual, adding that if necessary he would provide Nasrul with lawyers from his law office free of charge.

Another councillor, Tubagus Abas Saleh Makmun, also hailed Nasrul's willingness to go public with his allegation.

"It is difficult to find people like Nasrul now. He should be supported," Tubagus, who is the chairman of the National Awakening Party faction at the council, said.

Nasrul has accused Korpri's executive board of using funds collected from the city budget since 1997 for "unclear and fictitious" activities.

Korpri deputy chairman Zainal Arifin denied the allegation, and threatened to report Nasrul to the police for defamation.

Zainal, who is also the city's administrative affairs assistant, said on Monday the organization was still preparing to report Nasrul to the police.

Nasrul made his allegation after he was among 11 Korpri executives punished for irregularities amounting to Rp 58 million. The irregularities were uncovered during an investigation by the City Inspectorate last year.

Sutiyoso said Nasrul's allegation was the result of frustration at having been removed from Korpri's social and political division.

Nasrul said on Monday he was ready to provide evidence of the scam if he was reported to the police by Korpri.

In discussing the organization, Posman said Korpri's expenditures often were unclear and difficult to control.

"We all know that in the past money (from Korpri) was used to support Golkar Party. Since 1997, we do not know how the money has been spent since the organization no longer supports the party," he said.

He also questioned the Rp 800 million Korpri received from the 2000 city budget. He demanded that Korpri no longer receive funds from the budget because the organization was no longer part of the administration.

"Korpri should be treated the same as any other mass organization here," he added. (jun)