Scholarship scandal being probed
Scholarship scandal being probed
Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung
Wati, 45, a widow with two children, was elated when her son
Sholeh reported to her that he would be the recipient of a
scholarship.
As a poor laundry worker, Wati was happy that Sholeh, a senior
high school student, would receive Rp 35,000 (US$3.50) a month
from the Lampung Education Office.
"The money will help ease my burden," said Wati, who earns
about Rp 200,000 a month doing her neighbors' laundry.
Her relief, however, was short-lived. As the months went by,
no more was said about the scholarship and Sholeh graduated from
senior high school this year without receiving a cent. It was
later revealed that 4,300 "scholarship" students from 400 schools
in Lampung received no financial assistance.
The scholarship funds intended for students from elementary to
senior high school were allegedly embezzled by education
officials in the province.
The two officials -- Deni Fitriana, the project leader and
Tria Arizona, the treasurer -- have been held in Way Hui
Penitentiary, South Lampung since they were questioned by
prosecutors from Lampung Prosecutor's Office over the case. The
two had been named suspects in the case for allegedly embezzling
state funds amounting to Rp 2.47 billion (US$247,000).
The funds should have been channeled last year to the 4,300
students, said Maryono, the chief of prosecutors investigating
the case. Maryono said that the money had been diverted to the
personal bank accounts of Deni Fitriana and Tria Arizona.
However, the case is but one of several graft cases being
probed by Lampung prosecutors. The prosecutors are currently
investigating a project aimed at improving the quality of Lampung
senior high school education worth Rp 16.8 billion, a project
aimed at upgrading Lampung's junior high school buildings worth
Rp 19.5 billion and other projects.
The corruption in the Lampung Education Office is not new. In
2002, the Bandarlampung District Court sentenced Merayu Sukma,
the chief of Lampung Education Office, to two years' imprisonment
for corruption. Sukma was sent to prison for embezzling funds
intended for the purchase of equipment for Lampung schools worth
Rp 1.1 billion. Two years later, Sutoto, who replaced Merayu, was
also sentenced for corruption worth over Rp 13 billion. He was
accused of having embezzled funds for the purchase of text books
for students.