Hundreds demand probe into NTB graft allegations

Hundreds demand probe into NTB graft allegations

Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara

Hundreds of people staged a rally here on Wednesday to demand an
investigation into allegations of corruption in the West Nusa
Tenggara (NTB) administration, involving some Rp 6.7 billion
(US$788,235).

The protesters from at least six community groups marched to
the provincial prosecutor's office to convey their demand.

They urged prosecutors to summon the outgoing West Nusa
Tenggara governor, Harun Al Rasyid, all members of the provincial
legislative council and the council secretary for questioning
over the graft case.

The results of the investigation should be made public, they
asserted.

"We voted for the councillors, but they have eaten our money.
Fire them all," shouted one protester.

The peaceful protest was the third in one week by a number of
local groups.

The demonstrations centered on the alleged mark-up of funds
allocated in the 2003 budget for the council's expenses which
were raised up to Rp 6.7 billion.

The expenses were not in compliance with Gubernatorial Decree
No. 90/2001, which should have been used as a reference in
drafting NTB's budget.

Based on the decree, the annual expenses for the council
speaker and all other councillors must not exceed Rp 2.6 billion.
But the 2003 budget allocated Rp 3.9 billion for them. So the
mark-up amounted to Rp 1.3 billion.

The allocations for numerous allowances were allegedly also
marked up for the council members' personal gain.

However, chairman of the council's budget committee Kushardi
Anggrat denied the allegations of fund misuse in the legislature.

"The expenses are indeed not in line with Decree No. 90/2001.
But if there are mark-ups, you should not only blame us because
the funds are reimbursed according to the list of projects
approved by the administration," he said.

A similar denial also came from the treasurer of the council
secretariat Lalu Supartha. "There are no irregularities in the
allocation for the council's expenses. It is according to
procedures."

Supartha said the duties of councillors should be supported by
funding in line with the revenue of the West Nusa Tenggara
administration.

"Not all the activities of the council are on schedule. That's
why we need to prepare funds for incidental programs," he added.