Fraud alleged in school probe
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The police are investigating the alleged embezzlement of around Rp 133 million of assistance funds for poor students at state junior high school No. 232 in Pisangan, Pulogadung, East Jakarta.
The city police's fraud squad detectives chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Anton Wahono, said they would first summon witnesses for questioning before laying any charges.
"We are going to summon the school's principal, Tri Djumena, and Jakarta Elementary Education Agency director Sylviana Murni as witnesses in the case."
The case came to the public's attention after the City Council's people's welfare commission discovered during an impromptu visit to the school last week that part of the assistance funds, which were meant to cover the cost of educating 798 students from poor families, had been used to purchase furniture, a TV set and air-conditioners for the principal's office, as well as a photocopier.
The assistance funds are granted by the administration to 286 state junior high schools in Jakarta.
Sylviana argued, however, that the use of the money to purchase appliances and other things was legitimate "as long as it was with the consent of the school committee".
The school committee consists of representatives of teachers, parents and community figures in the neighborhood.
However, there is nothing to be found in Technical Guideline No. 228/2004 on the spending of block grants that supports Sylviana argument.
The assistance funds are disbursed every six months.
The school used most of the assistance funds, which amount to Rp 27,500 per student per month, to furbish the principal's office, while only 82 students from poor families actually received assistance compared to the 789 who were actually to do so.
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Block grant allocations for 286 junior high schools in Jakarta
1. telephone, electricity, water Rp 300,000 per month 2. office supplies Rp 500,000 per month 3. educational expenses Rp 2 million per month 4. cleaning services Rp 105,000 per month 5. incentives for two school janitors Rp 1.5 million per month 6. assistance funds Rp 27,500 per month per student 7. book procurement (only for 20 schools) Rp 9.7 million per school
Source: City Elementary Education Agency.