Police to quiz water company officials

Police to quiz water company officials

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police detectives are currently
investigating a reported scam involving Rp 9.9 billion
(US$876,100) in social security (Jamsostek) contributions, in
which executives of Jakarta's tap water companies are allegedly
implicated.

The Jakarta Police's deputy chief of detectives for corruption
crimes, Comr. Edy Iswahyudi, said on Wednesday that his officers
were scheduled to question officials from PT Pam Lyonnaise Jaya
(Palyja), PT Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ) and city-owned water company
PAM Jaya.

TPJ, a subsidiary of British Thames Water International, has
about 200,000 customers while Palyja, a subsidiary of French
based Lyonnaise des Eaux, has about 300,000 customers.

"We are currently questioning a witness from PAM in this case.
He is currently a witness, but could soon be charged as a
suspect," Edy told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Anybody convicted in the case could face a maximum punishment
of 20 years in jail and a Rp 1 billion fine, he said.

Edy added that police would soon summon TPJ president Pierre
Jacob and Palyja president Pierre Alla for questioning.

"The police complaint in the case was lodged here by a man
named Emil Djawes who is from PAM. He said that ever since 1998,
an abnormal percentage sum had been docked from the salaries of
the thousands of PAM employees working for Palyja and TPJ," Edy
said.

"We are looking into the matter."

Separately, PT Palyja public relations manager Maria Sidabutar
said that Palyja was confident that it had committed no mistakes,
and that they had "evidence and solid proof" that no corruption
had taken place.

"Our human resources manager, Rasam Badaruddin, has received a
police summons and he is scheduled to be questioned about the
case on Thursday. We are absolutely sure that no wrongdoing has
been perpetrated on our part, and we have proof to back this up,"
Maria told the Post on Wednesday.

Maria admitted that employees of PAM working at Palyja
received a "different kind of remuneration package and pension
plan" than those who worked directly for Palyja.

"There are different remuneration packages, sure, but this
does not mean that we're guilty of corruption." (ylt)