Probe of cemetery land scandal in last phase

JAKARTA (JP): City Secretary Harun Al Rasyid says that the city inspector claims that the investigation into a land scam allegedly masterminded by an official from the city cemetery agency will be completed soon.

Harun said yesterday that the investigative team has been working ever since the governor ordered the city inspector to investigate the case last week. "We hope the team will finish its job and make detailed reports to the governor this week."

The scam was made public after East Jakarta Mayor Soedarsono refused to sign an approval for the release of about 9,998 square meters of land to the city cemetery agency last September. He said that the refusal was in line with the austerity policy.

He also said that he suspected possible foul play between the city cemetery agency and land brokers in the deal.

Reports said that some officials from the cemetery agency had gained money by cooperating with land brokers.

Increase

According to the reports, the officials and brokers agreed to increase the price of the land, which was unsuitable for a cemetery, from about Rp 60,000 per square meter to Rp 143,000.

According to Presidential Decree No. 55/1993, an appropriation of more than one hectare of land requires the approval from a government department in charge of purchases.

In a bid to avoid involving the department, the city cemetery agency, therefore, tried to obtain 9,998 square meters, instead of 10,000 square meters (1 hectare).

Harun explained yesterday that the investigative team is looking into whether or not the land proposed by the cemetery burial agency is to be used for the extension of the Pondok Ranggon cemetery in East Jakarta.

After reports of the alleged scam reached Governor Surjadi Soedirdja's desk, he ordered the city inspector to investigate the case.

According to the official plan, the city cemetery agency will appropriate about 1.5 hectares of land for the expansion of the Pondok Ranggon public cemetery. The city administration has earmarked a total of Rp 2.145 billion (US$975,000) from its 1995/1996 budget for this.

However, the mayoralty had already chosen 1.5 hectares of land in a better location for the extension of the cemetery, but the cemetery agency refused it.

The suspicion of a racket became stronger when the cemetery agency refused to cooperate with the mayoralty in the land purchase as instructed by the city secretary. (yns)