Questions raised over refugee funds

AMBON, Maluku: Several provincial councillors here raised allegations of the misappropriation of refugee funds on Wednesday following an official visit to the Dobo and Aru Islands regency.

Councillor Demianus Laimasian said that according to the Maluku provincial council report in 2003, 150 houses were to have been built for refugees in Dobo using Rp 1.5 billion (US$166,666) in funds. However, the councillors were unable to find the houses during their visit.

He said that during the visit to the regency, the councillors recorded 433 refugee families.

"The 150 houses were supposed to have been constructed in 2003, but up to this point they are still not there," Demianus told The Jakarta Post. -- JP