KPKPN warns of sanctions for late declarations

JAKARTA (JP): The State Officials' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) threatened officials on Tuesday with dismissal or jail if they do not submit an audit report of their personal wealth soon.

Commission chairman Jusuf Syakir said that many officials have exceeded their one-month deadline to return the forms.

"We've been tolerant for almost three months, but some have even passed this limit," he told a media conference here.

"We are coordinating with Minister of Administrative Reform Anwar Supriadi on issuing sanctions, to which the minister has agreed," he added.

The sanctions, Jusuf said, would be based on Government Regulation No. 30/1980 on civil servants' discipline and Article 216 of the Criminal Code on disciplinary violations committed by civil servants.

The government regulation provides for sanctions ranging from a verbal warning to expulsion.

Article 216 of the Criminal Code stipulates that civil servants who do not obey orders from their superiors could be given a maximum jail sentence of 18 weeks or Rp 9,000 (US$0.82) fine.

"We will write to their superiors on what appropriate sanctions they can give their subordinates," he added.

Jusuf, however, pointed out that the sanctions cannot be given to legislators or councillors.

"The military and police have similar rules, but for legislators, there is no such rule," he said.

"However, they are supposed to set an example for others."

The commission is the first of its kind. Established in January, it is part of national efforts to stamp out corruption by forcing officials, legislators, councillors and all other public officials who receive state funding, to declare their wealth.

According to Jusuf, the commission has done all it can to persuade negligent officials to fill out and return their forms.

"We have phoned them, sent them letters, but still, only a few have returned their forms," he said.

Since March, Jusuf said, the commission has distributed a total of 25,000 forms, but only 4,490 forms or 18 percent of them have been returned.

"The worst are military officials. There has only been one person who has returned their form, a military resort commander from Lampung," he said.

Jusuf further noted that the commission has only just begun auditing the submitted reports.

"It was supposed to begin last month, but due to technical problems it was delayed," he said.

The commission has established groups of investigators, who will confirm the wealth submitted in the report.

"Of course, not every official will be checked. Only those whose reports seem suspicious," he said, adding that an official will be investigated by a group of three investigators.

Jusuf also announced on Tuesday the twelfth list of officials' wealth.

Among those on the latest list were Minister of Industry and Trade Luhut B. Panjaitan, who reported having assets worth Rp 7.105 billion (US$645,593) and US$295,494.

Another was newly appointed acting cabinet secretary Erman Rajagukguk, Ministry of Finance director general of budget Abdul Anshari Ritonga, legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Erman reported to have Rp 569 million and US$110 in assets. But he also claimed to be Rp 87.49 million in debt.

Abdul owns assets worth Rp 5.87 billion and debts in amount of Rp 550 million, while Aberson has assets worth Rp 1.262 billion and US$6,387.

According to Jusuf, KPKPN will establish a website where anyone can access the data.

"At least by the end of September at the latest," he said, of the website's launch. (hdn)