E. Kalimantang governor latest to be reported for corruption
E. Kalimantang governor latest to be reported for corruption
Rusman and Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post/Samarinda/Cirebon
East Kalimantan Governor Suwarna A.F. was reported on Thursday to
the provincial prosecutor's office for his alleged involvement in
two separate graft cases.
In a meeting with provincial prosecutors, some 30 activists
from the Anti-Graft Youth Alliance (APAK) said the governor
should be held responsible for an alleged markup in the purchase
of an airplane from Australia and a reportedly fictitious
plantation project.
The first case surfaced when the East Kalimantan government
bought five airplanes from an Australian company for Rp 5 billion
(US$555,555) each.
Activists investigating the purchase allege each airplane
should have cost the government just Rp 2.8 billion each. The
deal cost the public a total of Rp 11.5 billion, they claim.
In the second case, the governor is accused of approving a
fictitious project by a large plantation company. According to
the report by the activists, after receiving approval the company
cut down large swaths of trees and sold the timber but never
turned the area into a plantation.
Activists estimate the state lost Rp 5.3 billion ($588,888)
from the tree cutting.
During the meeting on Thursday, APAK leader Amir P. Ali
demanded prosecutors swiftly investigate the alleged corruption
cases. Amir also said he was ready to testify in court about the
cases.
"We also demand the governor step down or at least be
suspended during the investigation," said Amir.
East Kalimantan Prosecutor's Office head Masri Djinin said the
matter of the questionable plantation project was being
investigated by the Attorney General's Office.
He said his office would soon open an investigation into the
purchase of the Australian airplanes.
Governor Suwarna was attending an official function in Jakarta
and was unavailable for comment on Thursday, said provincial
administration spokesman Jauhar Effendi.
Pressure is being exerted against Suwarna at the same time
West Sumatra Governor Zainal Bakar stands accused of embezzling
Rp 6.4 billion.
Separately, student activists in Cirebon lashed out at a plan
by local councillors to purchase luxury cars for the leaders of
the Cirebon Councils.
Ari Sobari, chairman of the Indonesian Nationalist Student
Movement, said it was clear the councillors had no sense of
crisis.
"This plan is a slap in the face for residents. Many people
here are living below the poverty line, yet the councillors
propose the purchase of luxury cars for themselves," Sobari said.
Cirebon Council Speaker Tasiya Soemadi Al Gotas confirmed the
planned purchase of the vehicles. "However, this is just a plan.
We are still discussing it."