Official denies role in graft cases

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)