'Forgery case involves officials'

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Jakarta Police said on Saturday an investigation into a document forgery case involving taxi company PT Primer Metro Transindo could implicate city officials.

The case revolves around the alleged forging of a signature on documents needed by the company to secure an operation permit.

"During a preliminary investigation by civil investigators with the City Legal Bureau, an official with the City Transportation Agency confessed to his role. But, of course, we will not be satisfied with the (preliminary) investigation, but will pursue the possibility that other officials are involved," city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono told The Jakarta Post.

Tjiptono said the official who confessed to a role in the matter was attached to the land transportation business management division of the agency.

"However, we have yet to name any suspects in the forgery case," he said, adding that police investigators would begin questioning officials from the City Transportation Agency and the City General Affairs Bureau on Monday.

The case was brought to the media's attention by Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo, who said his signature had been forged on a document notifying relevant city agencies of his approval of an operation permit for PT Primer.

However, the document had already been processed and PT Primer currently holds an operation permit for its 50 taxis.

City Audit Agency head Firman Hutajulu confirmed that some officials could be implicated in the matter.

"What is strange to me is that the proposal for a business operation permit by the company was rejected during a coordination meeting among city agencies," he said.

Relevant city agencies are the City Transportation Agency, City Economic Development Bureau and the City General Affairs Bureau.

Firman said at least four officials were suspected of having knowledge of the crime. Two of the officials are still active, one has retired and the other has passed away.

The head of the transportation agency, Rustam Effendy Sidabutar, defended the people in his agency.

"My subordinates were not in a position to verify the authenticity of the document. Their job was simply to follow up and process the received document," Rustam said.

This is the third similar case to emerge in the past two years.

Last year, the police discovered that the signature of the City Secretary had been forged on documents. One suspect is in custody while the investigation continues.