Councillors to return funds to regental administration
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
Several members of the Tangerang regional council (DPRD) promised on Wednesday to return "assistance" fund packages worth Rp 37.5 million each that they had received in the regency's 2003 budget.
The regental administration allocated the Rp 37.5 million payouts to each of the 45 DPRD members to finance their activities, but the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), in its latest audit report, considers the funds illegitimate.
Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar has appealed to DPRD members for the 1999-2004 period to return the funds.
Councillors Bahrul Ulum and Ozy Saeroji, who were reelected for the 2004-2009 period, said on Wednesday that they had received a letter from the regent requesting them to return the money soon.
"If we have to return the money as requested by the regent, we must be ready to give back the funds -- no problem," Bahrul and Ozy said.
Former councillor Cecep Miharja said he was also ready to return the money.
"I can return the money right now if necessary," the businessman and former member of the Golkar faction at the council said.
He suggested that although the instruction to return the money came from the BKP, the regental administration should first hold a meeting with all former councilors since it the payouts concerned the institution, not individuals.
Meanwhile, a councillor, Anugrah, of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction, said he had refused to take the package.
"I will explain to the regental Supervisory Body (Bawasda) and prove to them that I did not take the money at all," he said.
An audit by BPK uncovered irregular spending worth Rp 24.6 billion (US$2.73 million) in the Tangerang regency in 2003.
According to the agency, irregularities took place in 14 offices under the Tangerang regency administration.
It also called on all councillors and administration officials involved in budget misappropriations to return the money to city coffers within six months or face prosecution.