Councilors call for dismissal of Dolog Jaya boss
JAKARTA (JP): Councilors on Monday strongly urged Governor Sutiyoso to recommend the dismissal of the current chief of the Jakarta Logistics Agency (Dolog Jaya), Achmad Zawawi, for his failure to stop widespread fraud and malpractice associated with the distribution of rice in the city.
The head of the United Development Party (PPP) faction in the council, Achmad Suaidy, and Sumekar K.W. and Lukman Mokoginta, his counterparts from the Armed Forces (ABRI) and Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) factions respectively, said Zawawi must have been aware that precious rice stocks were being siphoned off by fraudulent distributors, but had done nothing to stop the practice.
Lukman said the governor could sent the recommendation for Zawawi's dismissal directly to President B.J. Habibie, rather than turning to his supervisors in the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).
"The Dolog Jaya chief deserves to get fired. We can all see that he (Zawawi) has done nothing to stop those who have been reaping profits from the suffering of others," Suaidy said.
Lukman insisted: "If there is enough evidence, he (Zawawi) could even be brought before a court to answer for his actions."
Sumekar added: "We desperately need honest officials to sort out the rice distribution system and stabilize prices."
Last week, police questioned at least 26 people in connection with a number of alleged offenses pertaining to rice distribution. Eighty two thousand tons of rice were seized as evidence, 80,000 tons of which belonged to Dolog Jaya and had allegedly been kept for more than six months at a rented warehouse in Pulogadung industrial estate, East Jakarta.
Sixteen of the 26 people were questioned for their alleged role in illegal rice transactions. Nine others were taken to city police headquarters for questioning after they were caught red- handed while attempting to ship 1,900 tons of rice to neighboring Malaysia. The last person in custody stands accused of mixing poor quality rice with good quality rice to deceive customers.
Promise
Separately on Monday, Governor Sutiyoso vowed to dismiss any Dolog Jaya officials found to be involved in either hoarding the commodity or issuing distribution contracts to unauthorized distributors.
"Whatever the reasons, whether as a result of manipulation or incompetence, I must replace the officials who are responsible," the governor said.
Sutiyoso said he had asked the city's inspector to cooperate with the police investigation.
"We'll help the police," he said.
One of the 16 people apprehended last week in the Dolog Jaya office on Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan in North Jakarta is the chief of the agency's distribution section, identified only as E.D.
The latter's superior, Dolog Jaya's deputy chief Saean Ahmad, was also questioned by the police later.
The remaining 15 allegedly possessed rice distribution contracts, but on further investigation it was found that none of their names were on Dolog's list of registered distributors.
Reports said Zawawi would be summoned by police on Monday following the questioning of two of his subordinates in the agency.
However, city police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang denied the reports, adding that the investigation of the people had not yet been completed.
Aritonang explained that four of the nine people arrested on Saturday at Sunda Kelapa harbor in North Jakarta had been charged with attempting to illegally export 1,900 tons of rice to the Malaysian city of Kuching.
"We have released the other five people because they were just laborers," the officer said.
The four suspects, all of whom are large-scale rice traders, were identified only as W.M., 44, a trader at Palmerah market in Central Jakarta, L.P., 41, who operates at Duri Selatan market in West Jakarta, and Krt, 38, and Bs, who both work at Cipinang market in East Jakarta.
Aritonang said that during questioning, the suspects claimed they were going to export the rice because Jakartans thought it was of poor quality. The rice was imported with the help of a government subsidy, he added.
He did not say where the rice had originated from.
About 600 tons of the rice has since been sold to needy residents at several city markets for Rp 2,000 per kilogram, almost half the current market price.
When asked about progress in the case concerning the two Dolog Jaya officials and 15 people caught possessing illegal rice distribution contracts, Aritonang said: "None of the suspects have been detained. We're still just questioning them."
Dolog Jaya's deputy chief Saean Ahmad was also questioned in connection with the discovery of 80,000 tons of rice belonging to the agency in a rented warehouse in Pulogadung, he said. (ind/ivy/jun)