Official denies role in graft cases
JAKARTA (JP): Assistant to City Secretary on Development Affairs Ongky Sukasah denied on Monday reports of his alleged involvement in corruption cases at the dissolved Outdoor Advertising Review Team (TPTPR).
"I've never asked for money from advertising agencies," Ongky, former chairman of the team, told reporters in a media conference at City Hall.
He emphasized that it wasn't necessary for him to receive bribes or ask for money from people.
"I receive a monthly salary of nearly Rp 10 million (US $ 1333). I don't need to find additional income illegally," he said, while citing that his wife is a surgeon.
"We come from a family with academic backgrounds. My father-in-law was the dean of a medical school."
Ongky was commenting on media reports alleging his involvement in corruption cases during his chairmanship. Governor Sutiyoso decided to dissolve the team on March 21 over mounting pressure from city councillors.
"I have remained silent for five months to avoid any controversy, but these fallacious reports have ruined my good name," he said.
He added that the press reports were politically motivated.
"This has made the case more complicated. I don't want to become a political scapegoat. I won't talk about anybody else because I got the worst of it, and nobody came to my defense. Everybody was silent."
He said that his main duty as team chairman was to provide advertising agencies with technical recommendations in order to get permits from the City Revenue Agency.
"The recommendations also came from several other city agencies. Perhaps irregularities occurred at these agencies," he suggested.
The team is comprised of the City Development Control Agency, the City Planning Agency, the City Traffic and Land Transportation Agency, and the City Program Office.
Ongky said he heard that the case had been submitted to the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office.
"I'm ready to face the investigation but I hope it is fair and balanced and not politically motivated," he said.
"I'm also ready to reveal my bank account if necessary."
A source at city administration confirmed irregularities within the team.
"Officials from those agencies took levies from the advertisers in order to smooth out the issuance of permits they needed for the use of billboards," the official, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, stated.
Ongky also suggested that the city administration should dissolve all such teams.
"I now chair about 18 teams for different programs and I have asked the governor to relinquish some of them because I don't have much time. It would be better to transfer their authority to the existing agencies," he said. (nvn)