Major graft cases probed in Maluku
Major graft cases probed in Maluku
M. Azis Tunny, Ambon
The Maluku Development and Finance Audit Body (BPKP) is set to
investigate three major corruption cases, which caused tens of
billions of rupiah in losses to the province.
Maluku BPKP head Mohammad Chusein said on Monday the
investigations would begin this week and promised to report the
results to the Maluku High Prosecutor's Office.
There were possibilities that the three graft cases would be
handed over to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in
Jakarta for further investigation, he added.
The three cases to be investigated include alleged
irregularities in the use of Rp 18 billion (US$2 million) in
assistance funds allocated for the resettlement of refugees
across Maluku.
Another case is the alleged embezzlement of Rp 10 billion in
funds earmarked for a city development project in the Maluku
capital of Ambon.
The third case is the alleged misuse of funds from Maluku's
regional original revenue at two fish export quality-assessment
laboratories in Ambon and Tual in Southeast Maluku.
Chusein said the probes were recommended by Maluku Governor
Karel Albert Ralahalu, who recently sent a letter to the
province's BPKP.
The planned investigations would involve the Maluku
administration supervisory board (Bawasda), Chusein said. "So,
this task is given by the governor to be followed up," he told
The Jakarta Post.
Chusein said that BPKP officials would gather data and
information from the field as part of the investigation process.
"We will visit refugees to collect evidence. If they say they
never received funds to return to their homes, it means there are
violations," he added.
The refugees concerned are those who fled three years of
sectarian fighting between Muslims and Christians since early
1999, during which some 6,000 people were killed.
The conflict ended after local Muslim and Christian leaders
signed a peace deal in 2001, brokered by the central government.
Sporadic attacks carried out by unidentified people hit Ambon
several times but did not provoke renewed clashes.