Officials accused of safety net funds abuse
Officials accused of safety net funds abuse
JAKARTA (JP): At least 18 residents of Karang Anyar
subdistrict in Central Jakarta have lodged complaints to city
police about data manipulation and abuse of social safety net
funds.
On Wednesday, two of the residents filed reports on the misuse
of the social safety net program funds in their area.
Accompanied by lawyer Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, small-scale
businesswoman Siti Aminah and shop owner Etty said local
officials in their respective neighborhoods had asked them to
sign for safety net funds which they had not received.
They said their neighborhoods chiefs Onah Suryawati and Redy
S., the subdistrict's treasurer, Tesia Halim, and head of the
subdistrict's community welfare organization, Sutarmo, were
behind the alleged scam.
"One of my clients (Siti Aminah) has been used by Sutarmo and
his accomplices (as a recipient on a) fake list of receivers,"
Nursyahbani said.
Siti Aminah, 54, represents a group of 10 small-scale tailors.
The list reportedly detailed members of Siti Aminah's group as
individuals who had received a Rp 18 million (US$2,200) loan from
the scheme.
However, Siti Aminah said she had never received any funds
from the local welfare organization or the fund, Nursyahbani
said.
"She visited her neighbor Barron Saefudin (an executive of a
local youth organization) to discuss the problem, because her
fellow tailors in the group thought she had taken the money for
herself and therefore kept asking about their share," Nursyahbani
said.
Etty said she was once asked by staff from the subdistrict
office to sign a receipt stating she had received a Rp 2 million
loan from the safety net fund, lawyer Nursyahbani said.
"The fact is Ibu Etty was only given Rp 200,000."
Nursyahbani did not explain why Etty signed the document.
She said at least 18 local residents had made similar charges
against local officials in charge of the funding scheme.
Data from the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas)
reveals the subdistrict is charged with the disbursement of Rp
764 million of funds. The money is designed to empower small-
scale businesses which have been badly hit by the crippling
economy.
"From the total fund allocated for local needy residents, only
30 percent has been correctly administered. The rest is still
missing," said Barron, who said he had immediately launched an
investigation following Siti Aminah's accusation.
"We have adequate evidence concerning their malfeasance,"
Barron said.
He said Bappenas and Central Jakarta mayoralty staff had been
notified about the alleged scam but were yet to take actions
against the four officials.
Meanwhile, city police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis
promised to investigate the case.
"The fund deals with the fate of many people," he said. (emf)