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

'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.