Embezzlement of refugee fund uncovered

Embezzlement of refugee fund uncovered

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The Southeast Sulawesi provincial council has uncovered irregularities in the distribution of government funds for Ambonese, Poso and East Timorese refugees in Buton regency.

Hasan Mbou, a member of the council, said on Tuesday that his team, who had found the irregularities, would ask the police to follow up on the findings.

In the districts of Gu and Lakudo, he said, most refugees received the aid after local officers responsible for distributing the funds had embezzle from the total.

"Each family should receive between Rp 2 million and Rp 4 million depending on how many members it has, but in reality, families have been receiving between Rp 1 million and Rp 2 million," he said.

He added that village heads and district chiefs had claimed that the fund deduction was aimed at financing the construction of public facilities for the refugees.

Buton Regent Syafei Kahar said in Baubau, Southeast Sulawesi, that he had asked the local police to investigate the case. -- Antara