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)