Graft is rife in East Timor

Graft is rife in East Timor

DILI, East Timor: A member of the House of Representatives expressed his dismay Saturday with the rampant irregularities plaguing shoddy development projects in the area.

"I have found that huge funds have been misappropriated by project managers and contractors," said legislator Salvador Januario Ximenes Soares as quoted by Antara.

According to Salvador, many projects have been transferred to the government, resulting in quality far lower than expected.

Salvador, a member of the Jakarta-based House Commission II overseeing domestic affairs, conducted a four-day fact-finding mission in his region earlier this month.

He determined that a number of project managers, who also hold government positions, failed to accomplish their projects on time.

He pointed out that he also had evidence of collusion between government officials and businessmen. As a result, he said, contractors can walk away from their sub-standard projects without fear of government reprisals. (pan)