Governor may be questioned over PJA scam

Governor may be questioned over PJA scam

JAKARTA (JP): The City Prosecutors' Office announced on
Wednesday its plan to summon City Secretary Fauzi Bowo for a
second questioning in connection with controversial overseas
trips sponsored by PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol (PJA).

The head of the city prosecutors team handling the case,
Tengku Dasril, also indicated on Wednesday the possibility of
questioning Governor Sutiyoso concerning his knowledge of the
case.

Dasril said the prosecutors would grill Fauzie in their formal
investigation into the alleged scam following his confession in
his previous questioning that he knew that PJA would sponsor the
overseas trips, but still he approved the disbursement of Rp 5.2
billion (US$547,300) from the 2000 city budget for the
comparative studies.

PJA reportedly paid Rp 2.1 billion to fund the trips for a
group of 45 city councillors and officials between Oct. 9 and
Oct. 15 to three different destinations: Cape Town and
Johannesburg, Sydney, and Tokyo.

Sutiyoso has confirmed that the fund was disbursed without his
approval as the company's chief commissioner.

Dasril said on Wednesday he would need presidential approval
to question Sutiyoso, as required by the law.

"The fact is that Sutiyoso's staffers took part in the
overseas trips and, regardless of the governor's claim of not
having approved the disbursement of funds, the money from PJA was
disbursed. Who must take responsibility for that?" said Dasril.

Dasril also said he had not received the letter of approval
from the minister of home affairs and regional autonomy required
to question city council speaker Edy Waluyo and 16 councillors
joining the overseas trips.

Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi
Soedirdja said on Tuesday he had signed the letter.

An internal investigation conducted by the City Inspectorate
and the Official Honor Board recently found nine city officials
guilty and recommended administrative sanctions against them. Two
high-ranking officials who had earlier been strongly suspected of
being involved in the scandal were declared not guilty.

The nine officials, mostly low-ranking staffers, were found
guilty of misuse of funds and making the trips without the
governor's knowledge.

Dismissal

Meanwhile, a source close to PJA said the company's
extraordinary share holders meeting on Wednesday decided to
dismiss president director Rushadi over the alleged scam.

The source, who requested anonymity, said Rushadi had been
honorarily dismissed. The meeting also named property director
Yahya B. Riabudi as acting president director.

"The decision takes effect until the next general meeting of
PJA's shareholders, scheduled to take place in June," the source
said.

Rushadi's extended term should have ended in June.

Following the announcement from head of the City Economy
Development Office Dameria Saragih last week, Rushadi's fate
would depend on a financial audit performed by a public
accountant. The audit was expected to be completed this week.

The source also said that Rushadi challenged his dismissal,
citing the unfinished investigation conducted by the City
Prosecutors' Office.

"Rushadi said he would take legal actions to restore his name.
However, he will have to leave the company on Thursday," the
source said.

PT PJA is part of PT Pembangunan Jaya chain, of which more
than 80 percent shares are owned by the city administration. (07)