Official investigated for graft

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang

Police have questioned Tangerang Social Welfare Agency head Wildanul Firdaus following activists' calls that the Tangerang Prosecutor's Office investigate the alleged embezzlement of a Rp 3.3 billion (US$351,064) community development fund by local councillors.

Wildanul said on Friday before meeting with Council Speaker Dadang Kartasasmita that he had been summoned and questioned by the police as a witness. However, he declined to go into details.

"It's enough, please. Don't ask me any more questions. This case is being handled by the police," he said.

Dadang said no councillors had been summoned for questioning either by the police or the prosecutor's office.

"I have asked all 11 faction chairmen to clear up the embezzlement allegation," he said.

According to Dadang, the chairmen of all factions at the council claimed to have distributed the fund.

"They promised that not even one rupiah had been embezzled or used for personal gain. They will prove it by showing receipts, and recipients of the fund will provide information on the issue," he said.

The Tangerang Government Watch (TGW) and the Movement of Islamic Boarding School Students (Gerakan Santri) urged on Monday that the prosecutor's office investigate the alleged embezzlement.

TGW chairman Tonny Wismantoro alleged the councillors of recommending the fund's allocation from the 2004 regental budget and that it be channeled through the social welfare agency to help finance community service activities.

He said each of the 11 council factions was to receive Rp 300 million from the agency prior to the legislative election, but pointed out that no legal basis existed for councillors to distribute the funds directly. The council was only authorized to review and approve the annual budget proposal from the local administration.

He also claimed that the TGW had strong proof that many factions had instead distributed the community development fund to their councillors as uang kadeudeuh, or gratuities, to mark the end of their terms.