NGOs demand speedy probe into graft cases in Samarinda

NGOs demand speedy probe into graft cases in Samarinda

Rusman, The Jakarta Post, Samarinda

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Samarinda -- the capital
of East Kalimantan province -- demanded on Saturday that law
enforcers immediately investigate several alleged corruption
cases in the province, which have caused the state total losses
of Rp 216.4 billion (US$23 million).

"The cases have involved both legislative and executive
branches of the government since last year," said Achmad Basori,
executive director of the Care of State Assets (PKN).

Basori said the investigation should focus on an alleged mark
up in the purchase of a Rp 8 billion airplane and a mark up in
the Rp 5 billion construction of the East Kalimantan governor's
official residence.

He also cited a mark up in the construction of the East
Kalimantan provincial council building amounting to Rp 10
billion, and "fictitious" trips made by councillors that cost the
state Rp 2 billion.

Corruption had also been detected at regental level, he said.

Basori said government officials in Berau regency, for
example, would be questioned over the alleged embezzlement of
reforestation funds amounting to Rp 88 billion.

"These cases cost the state money -- the people's money, which
must be recovered for their sake," said Basori.

The amount lost to the state is believed to be some 6.7
percent of the total East Kalimantan budget this year, which
amounts to Rp 3 trillion.

Basori criticized the East Kalimantan Prosecutor's Office and
the Attorney General's Office, saying they were sluggish in
investigating the alleged corruption cases.

Both state institutions have begun to investigate the cases,
but have named no suspects. "The sluggish investigation of the
cases may give rise to suspicions that the prosecutors were
bribed -- it will tarnish their reputations," he said.

In order to rule out bribery allegations, the prosecutors must
speed up their investigation," said Charles Siahaan, the program
director of Visi 7, a corruption watch dog in the province.

Separately, chief of the East Kalimantan Prosecutor's Office
D.H. Panjaitan rejected accusations that his office was
improperly investigating the cases. "We have to be prudent in
building the cases. We want to collect comprehensive evidence
before we complete the case files and bring them to court," said
Panjaitan.