Health officials suspected of hoarding

Health officials suspected of hoarding

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam

Batam councillors are currently investigating an alleged hoarding
of drug and medical equipment worth Rp 3 billion by local health
officials.

Saptono Mustakim, one of the four councillors assigned to look
into the allegation, said Thursday that the lawmakers were
responding to a report made about the alleged absence of medical
supplies in local public health centers.

"We will continue to seek facts and data on the alleged
hoarded medicines in the pharmaceutical storehouse and submit
them to the prosecution office after getting valid proof of
deviation," he told The Jakarta Post.

Meanwhile, Batam Health Office head Puardi Djarius said that
he was ready to face any consequences if the city legislature
made the decision to prosecute.

"We are ready to be examined because there is no such hoarding
of medicines. It's just the councillors' wrong perception," said
Puardi, adding that the regional audit board had evaluated the
performance of his office.

He admitted that one third of the medical supplies were piled
in the warehouse for reserve purposes while the rest had been
distributed.

Zulkarnain, chief of the Batam prosecution office, told The
Post that he was ready to follow up on the alleged health office
budget deviation as soon as he acquired adequate evidence.

Husbandri of the Batam Corruption Watch, however, urged the
prosecution office to conduct its own investigation instead of
waiting for the report from the legislature.

He cautioned the prosecution office over the possibility of a
conspiracy between the legislature and the Batam administration
to cover up the case as it involved key officials.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Asman Abnur has been accused of
nepotism in placing Puardi --his brother in law-- in his current
position.

Puardi denied the charge by indicating that he himself and his
other two relatives were career officials already assigned to the
office since 1989, while Asman assumed the post of Deputy Mayor
only in the middle of 2001.