Lampung governor responsible for budget scam: Prosecutor

Lampung governor responsible for budget scam: Prosecutor

Oyos Saroso, The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung

Lampung Governor Oemarsono cannot evade responsibility in a Rp
1.2 billion (US$131,800) case connected with a provincial school
book project following the declaration of the former education
office chief as a suspect, provincial prosecution authorities
said on Monday.

Akhrul Latief, deputy chief of Lampung Prosecutor's Office,
indicated that Oemarsono was involved in the case because as
governor he had approved the direct appointment of a secondary
school atlas supplier for the project.

Former head of the provincial education office Merayu Sukma
Hasyim, according to Latief, was named suspect in the scam on the
basis of audit results of the Financial and Development
Comptroller Agency.

"Despite Merayu Sukma's knowledge of the tender process
required for the atlas supply, this project was carried out
through direct appointment," the prosecutor pointed out.

Pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 18/1999 on the procurement
of government goods and services, the purchase of goods worth
over Rp 50 million must be conducted through an open tender.

"The governor's involvement is due to his consent to the
direct appointment proposed by his subordinate," added Latief.

The governor denied the corruption allegation by maintaining
that the direct appointment in this project was in line with
procedures.

In his argument, Oemarsono referred to Presidential Decree No.
18/2000 on the procurement of government goods and its technical
directives. This decree allows the supply of goods based on
direct appointment by observing the joint accord of the Minister
of Finance and the Head of Bappenas (National Planning Board).

Nonetheless, the joint accord stipulates four stages for
direct appointment, including the presence of an appointment
committee, which invites supplier candidates, and the committee's
evaluation, clarification and negotiation regarding the
candidates' bidding prices.

A survey by The Jakarta Post found irregularities in the
appointment of Jakarta' publisher Yudistira as supplier. There
were at least six other atlas publishers in Jakarta and Surabaya
deserving selection for appointment.

Meanwhile, Indra Sahnun Lubis, acting as defense attorney of
Merayu Sukma, said the case involving his client was tainted by
politics. "It has to do with the issue of succession of the
Lampung governor in January," Lubis claimed.

Merayu Sukma, who is now head of Lampung's rural community
development office, had once also been involved in another book
project worth Rp 22 billion.