Councilor wants fair decision on Ancol scam

JAKARTA (JP): On the eve of Governor Sutiyoso's announcement concerning the alleged misused of funds involving PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol (PJA), City Council deputy speaker Djafar Badjeber demanded a fair and honest decision on the matter.

Djafar Badjeber suggested that the governor cross-check all reports presented by the City Inspectorate and the Officials Honor Council in order to avoid hidden interests of certain parties.

"Sutiyoso must be clear in declaring the truth and properly punishing the guilty officials," Djafar said.

He was responding to speculation that the council would sacrifice low-ranking staffers as scapegoats to cover any top city officials involved in the scam.

Governor Sutiyoso revealed on Friday that PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol was proven guilty of disbursing Rp 2.1 billion (US$220,000) to finance overseas trips of councilors and city officials without his consent.

The Jakarta Prosecutor's Office and the honor council, which comprises all top officials in the city administration, are scrutinizing 40 people, including 14 councilors, in connection with the case.

Among the city officials suspected of involvement in the case are chief of City Development Agency Bambang Sungkono, City Land Agency chief Ahmaddin Ahmad and his deputy Nurfakih.

A source at the City Inspectorate confirmed on Monday that at least four administration staffers at the City Council Secretariat who went on the overseas trips were proven to have received a double allowance each.

Sutiyoso, who is also the ex officio president commissioner of PT PJA, said on Friday he would not hesitate to fire Bambang or anyone else proven guilty in the scam.

Separately, representatives of Ancol's workers union protested the governor for blaming the partly city-owned company while the investigation into the case was still under way.

They said it was the governor who approved the company's proposal to fund the overseas trips.

"We will stage a mass rally if the governor dismisses Ancol's director Rushadi for such a baseless accusation," said chief of the union, Harry Susanto, who is also an advertising manager at the Ancol leisure complex developer.

"We believe that Rushadi is an honest man. He must have consulted with the governor over the proposal beforehand," said Harry.

He suspected that there were certain people who wished to take advantage of Rushadi's departure from the company. Rifts have long been apparent among the firm's four directors, Harry said.

Sutiyoso asserted on Monday that he never approved the proposal.

The Ancol scam centers around allegations that PT PJA paid Rp 2.1 billion to fund overseas trips called "comparison studies" for a group of 45 people comprising councilors and city officials between Oct. 9 and Oct. 15. to three destinations -- South Africa, Australia and Japan. (04/07)