Mayor says he will step up probe on corruption
JAKARTA (JP): Amidst allegations that a number of military and civil servants of the East Jakarta administration were involved in a corruption case, Mayor Sudarsono said yesterday that he will step up efforts to overcome the problem.
Sudarsono, however, declined to give details of the development of the investigation, saying that he will tell the media about the case after cooling down the tense situation.
Earlier reports said that six government officials and four military officers had received free plots of land in the Pondok Kopi area, East Jakarta, from PT Mas Naga Raya real estate company.
The total 1.3-hectare plot in the housing area was initially intended to be kept as a public area, a must for every developer, which would include a park and a mosque.
Analysts have repeatedly said that Jakarta needs a lot of public space following complaints that children, as well as other residents of the capital, have inadequate playing grounds, parks and other environmentally healthy zones.
Sudarsono, however, added on Sunday that two of his staff members had already received the plots as "rations" from PT Mas Naga Raya, but returned them after the controversy caused by the media.
He added that the Jakarta Inspectorate's Office had been invited to probe into the case following the allegation that an official of the East Jakarta Inspectorate's Office was also involved in the scandal.
The management of PT Mas Naga Raya, whose office is on Jl. Cemara Raya Kav. K-1 in Bekasi, West Java, however, was not available for comment over the past two days.
A staff member of the firm said in a telephone conversation with The Jakarta Post yesterday that the management is still consolidating the data on the land use of the Mas Naga Raya real estate.
He declined to mention the full name of the firm's president, its shareholders, or the reason behind such a controversy.
The report said that some alleged corruptors received 200- square-meter plots, while others received 300, or 500-square- meter parcels.
Ismet S. Hasan, the head of Duren Sawit district, said yesterday that the mayor of East Jakarta had conducted a meeting with officials as well as the management of the firm over the issue.
Ismet, however, declined to give details, saying that the mayor had told all of his men not to give information to the press.
"You have better ask the mayor himself. He was feeling uncomfortable with the latest development," he said, apparently referring to the remark of Governor Surjadi Soedirdja on Monday who will question the mayor over the case.
Real estate
Meanwhile, Nugroho Suksmanto, the chairman of the Jakarta- chapter of Real Estate Indonesia (REI), said yesterday that he will probably question the management of PT Mas Naga Raya over the allegation.
"If the member of my organization is right, of course I have to stand by his side. It is the duty of an organization to protect its members," Nugroho said, adding that he had not received any reports about mismanagement in the real estate firm.
Lawyer Frans Hendra Winarta, however, said yesterday that it is a custom here for real estate companies to prepare "rations" for their official counterparts to help eliminate red tape.
Referring to an official oath, Frans said that civil servants are strictly prohibited from taking any gifts or services from the public.
"However, things are totally different between aspirations and realities. Corruption is one of the biggest problems in Indonesia," he added.
Nugroho said that the result of any wrongdoing by any member of REI is an internal sanction.
Councilors from various parties also urged the government to take firm measures against corrupt officials. (09)