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.