Councillors support Nasrul's testimony over Rp 4.3b graft

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)