Subdistrict' head faces dismissal

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah said on Monday he would dismiss Erwanto, the head of Karanganyar subdistrict in Central Jakarta, if he was involved in the misuse of social safety net funds amounting to Rp 764 million.

"Should the police investigation show Erwanto is involved in the deviation, I will fire him," he said.

Andi said Erwanto, who is also the supervisor of the fund distribution, should have known about the misuse of the money.

"The investigation currently done by the police is expected to be completed on May 21," he said.

Andi also said that Sutarmo, chairman of the local village resilience board (LKMD) and coordinator of the fund distribution, would be asked to give an explanation of the distribution of the funds in a meeting at the town hall on May 21.

The meeting is scheduled to be attended by all neighborhood community chairmen in the subdistrict and other representatives of the fund distribution, Andi said.

The Karanganyar subdistrict was allocated Rp 764 from the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) for the 1998/1999 fiscal year.

However, a large percentage of the fund to be distributed by Sutarmo did not reach its intended targets: poor people, the unemployed and small business operators.

The large fund reportedly was swindled by officials in the subdistrict who falsified the signatures of the fund's supposed recipients.

A Bappenas team uncovered the deviation during their visit to the subdistrict at the end of April to check on the distribution of the money.

On Friday, 18 residents of Karanganyar subdistrict lodged official complaints with city police over case. (01)