Graft makes the poor suffer

Graft makes the poor suffer

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The socially disadvantaged of this city will bear the brunt of
corruption occurring in this year's budget as most of the money
alleged to have been misappropriated was earmarked for the
destitute, a state agency has said.

According to data from the City Audit Agency, which was
obtained by the media over the weekend, some Rp 860 million of
the estimated Rp 4.8 billion (US$533,333) pinched from the budget
was allegedly embezzled by two doctors at city-owned Budhi Asih
Hospital in the Setiabudi area of South Jakarta.

The agency's report, signed by deputy chairman Syarifuddin
Mahfudz, stated that the Rp 860 million was allocated for
underprivileged patients in the area and the victims of
February's floods.

The agency has urged that the money be returned and
recommended that the doctors, identified by the agency as Erni
and Rosenita, be sanctioned.

The agency report said that Cawang subdistrict head Abdul
Rahman was caught selling donated rice, worth Rp 149 million, to
flood victims in the subdistrict of East Jakarta.

The agency demanded that Rahman return the money and further
recommended that Governor Sutiyoso dismiss him.

In addition to Rahman, an official of Cempaka Putih
subdistrict, Central Jakarta, identified as Adnan Darsono, was
caught bringing food earmarked for flood victims in the
subdistrict, to Bekasi, the agency said.

After an investigation headed by the agency, Darsono returned
the rice, however, it is unclear how much was returned, and the
agency has recommended that Darsono be sanctioned.

The administration allocated this year Rp 251 billion for
flood victims, which included food donations and a flood
rehabilitation program.

About Rp 4.5 billion, collected during a charity night for
flood victims, was reportedly embezzled by the ICE on Indonesia,
a non-governmental organization (NGO), which had been designated
by Sutiyoso to distribute the fund, the agency reported.

Another Rp 484 million allocated for the City Park Agency
found its way into the pockets of 19 officials at the city's five
mayoralties, the agency reported.

Some Rp 86 million has been repaid while the remaining Rp 398
million, earmarked for the development of public parks, has not
been returned yet, the agency said.

Besides losing out on more public parks, residents may face
garbage problems this year as some Rp 149 million destined for
the purchase of 10 incinerators has also disappeared.

The chairwoman of City Council Commission C for city revenue,
Anna Rudhiantina, urged Sutiyoso to hand out stiff punishment to
those responsible for taking public funds.

"Not only should the funds be returned, but the officials
should be dismissed or taken to court," Anna of the Golkar Party
said during the council's year-end conference.

Many councillors also believe that total funds taken from the
current Rp 10.6 trillion city budget amount to more than Rp 4.8
billion.

It is not clear whether Sutiyoso has punished the officials
responsible for allegedly embezzling funds. Last year, several
civil servants were dismissed for similar reasons, but most were
low-ranking officials. High-ranking officials remain untouched,
and none were sent to court.