KPKPN warns of sanctions for late declarations
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)