'Rp 53b in reforestation funds misused in East Java'

Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

Calls are growing for police and prosecutors in East Java province to investigate alleged misuse of around Rp 53 billion in reforestation funds provided by the central administration.

The demand came after councillors in the province received a report of irregularities in state funds, allegedly involving local officials of forestry offices.

"Our findings are quite clear. They show indications of the funds being misused by forestry officials," said H.M. Buchori, a member of East Java legislative Council Commission B.

He urged police and prosecutors to take immediate action by looking into the case.

"The East Java Police and the local prosecutors' office should pick up the ball by investigating and looking for evidence. The two agencies do not necessarily need to wait for a report from other parties because the allegedly misused money is state funds," he said.

Buchori also called on the Supreme Audit Body (BPK) to audit the Rp 53 billion funds so as to uncover any fictitious projects that might have been involved in misuse of the money.

East Java Governor Imam Utomo claimed on Tuesday that he had knowledge of possible corruption in the misuse of the reforestation funds, but vowed to push for an investigation into the scandal.

"The reforestation money is part of the redistribution funds directly provided by the central government to regencies and cities. The provincial administration has not been notified. However, I have issued an order to investigate the matter," he said in the provincial capital, Surabaya.

Utomo admitted he was surprised by the allegations of irregularities in the use of the funds and that his office would report on it to the central government.

Those who had channeled the funds to the forestry offices in regencies should be held responsible for the scandal, the governor said.

The head of East Java forestry office could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

Buchori said the alleged irregularities involved dozens of reforestation projects carried out in regencies.

"The projects violate existing procedures because they have been awarded without carrying out open tenders. I have cross- checked it with the Association of Indonesian Goods Procurement Partners (ARDIN) and the Association of Indonesian Forestry Companies (APTANI)," he said.

Citing an example, Buchori said the Rp 1.2 billion forestry project in Blitar regency was carried out without a tender and was handled by a former local forestry official.

"According to a report I have received, those responsible for the project directly appointed a partner company to handle it," he added.

A similar project was also carried out in Situbondo regency, involving Rp 2.2 billion of the reforestation funds. "The project should have involved local people, but they were just asked to sign it to approve its implementation and did not understand anything about it," Buchori said.

Situbondo is one of many areas in East Java that frequently experience flooding and landslides, blamed on severe deforestation across the province.

Environmentalists accused local forestry officials and state- owned forestry companies of failing to do their jobs properly in managing the forests, as illegal logging and land clearance had continued unchecked.

Deputy East Java forestry office head Handoyo said the logging and clearance had caused destruction of some 600,000 hectares of forests and land across the province.