Developer 'financed' councillors' trips

JAKARTA (JP): An official from PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol admitted the company had spent some Rp 4 billion (US$425,500) to finance overseas trips of councillors last month, a report said on Tuesday.

Antara quoted the company's spokesman Muchrijul Adzli as saying that it was the councillors who had asked for the money for their trips to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Japan, South Africa and Australia.

It is unclear why the company had met the request.

It was reported earlier that the councillors had questioned the fund subsidized by the city administration in the 2000 city budget for the Sea World recreation park, which is under the supervision of the company.

A group of 16 councillors made official visits to the countries last month, spending around Rp 13 billion from the city budget.

Meanwhile, City Council's Commission D for development affairs chairman Sayogo Hendrosubroto denied the allegation saying the councillors never received the money from the company. (dja)