KPKPN can check officials' accounts

JAKARTA (JP): The Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) asserted on Thursday that it had the authority to audit the private bank accounts of state officials in order to ascertain whether the officials concerned had honestly declared their wealth.

"The right (to inspect an official's private bank account) is stipulated in the statement on the last page of the form," the commission's deputy chairman Hartoyo said after handing over the forms to 16 top officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy.

The forms were given to, among others, the Ministry's Secretary General Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Director General of Regional Autonomy Sudarsono Hardjosoekarto, Director General of National Integration Muhanto A.Q., and Director General of Public Administration Oentarto Sindung Mawardi.

Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi Soedirdja will receive the forms upon his return from accompanying President Abdurrahman Wahid to the riot-torn town of Sampit, Central Kalimantan.

The commission is also slated to audit the wealth of seven top officials of the National Land Agency (BPN) and 10 executive directors of city-owned companies (BUMD).

After its members had been sworn in by President Abdurrahman Wahid on Jan. 11, the commission submitted the forms to the President, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Amien Rais.

Hartoyo said the officials had between 15 days and one month to complete the forms. The audit reports will be listed in the appendix to the state gazette so that they can be read by the public.

"Their (the officials') wealth will be audited just before they take up their posts, during their terms of office, and after they quit their posts," he said.

Meanwhile, Siti Nurbaya said the audit of officials' wealth was required in order produce clean government.

"The audit will be conducted on a phased basis. Currently, we are submitting the forms for executive-level officials, and after that it will be the turn of lower-level officials," she said. (02)