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)