More councillors to be quizzed over Ancol scam
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Prosecutors' Office will question three more city councillors next week in connection with the controversial overseas trip by a group of councillors last October, head of the Jakarta prosecutor's office Basrief Arief said on Thursday.
"We will complete the investigation next week with the questioning of the three councillors," Basrief told reporters after a coordinating meeting at City Hall.
He declined to mention the three councillors' names, but said that after questioning the three, his office would start examining documents related to the overseas trips to Japan, South Africa and Australia.
He also declined to reveal the results of the investigation into some 30 people, including 13 councillors and city administration officials, which have been questioned so far.
Basrief said his office would likely focus on the three councillors who had received their travel allowances, but did not join the trip.
The comparative-study trip was financed by city-owned developer PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, which was expecting to secure an approval from the City Council for its marine project in Ancol, North Jakarta.
Besides receiving the allowance from the developer of about US$10,000, the councillors reportedly received a fund of Rp 52 million each from the City Budget.
Separately, Governor Sutiyoso asked the public to remain patient in observing the investigation of the case, allegedly involving chief of the City Development Agency Bambang Sungkono and chief of the City Planning Agency Ahmaddin Ahmad.
"We should be patient and wait for the completion of the investigation," Sutiyoso said in his response to the general evaluation on his administration's performance by the City Council's factions on Thursday.
He denied that city administration Inspector Hendarin Ono Saleh had submitted his notice of retirement because his recommendation was rejected by the governor.
Hendarin earlier recommended that Sutiyoso "evaluate" the positions of Bambang and Ahmaddin. (jun)