Sutiyoso vows to pursue reports on alleged corruption in KPUD

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Governor Sutiyoso promised on Friday to pass on to the police, prosecutors or the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reports on alleged irregularities in the use of Rp 168.6 billion (US$17.5 million) by the Jakarta Elections Commission (KPUD).

"We will pass the reports to law enforcers should we find corroborating evidence that confirm the allegations (of corruption)," Sutiyoso announced after Friday prayers at City Hall.

However, Sutiyoso claimed that he had yet to receive the reports from the City Council even though Speaker Ade Surapriatna said the council had submitted the reports to the governor on Wednesday.

Council Commission A for legal and administrative affairs spotted alleged irregularities in the use of the city budget by the KPUD in the organizing of the 2004 general election, including tax evasion and fictitious tender process.

The commission claimed the KPUD had failed to pay Rp 4.2 billion in tax.

It also discovered questionable tender process and a markup in the price of 180,000 waistcoats worth Rp 12 billion (or Rp 71,000 each) by the KPUD.

The price was far higher than the market price of Rp 25,000 each, it said.

"There was an alleged markup and manipulation in the rental fee of the office for the KPUD in the Thousand Islands regency worth Rp 110 million," it added.

The commission also said it would recommend that KPUD officials be dismissed due to flawed credibility and also urge law enforcers, including the KPK, to investigate the alleged irregularities in the institution as well as the city administration, which failed to provide clear guidelines for the KPUD.

Calls from councillors are mounting for the KPK to take proactive measures to follow up the findings. However, the KPK has so far taken no steps to pursue the case.

"The KPK must take the initiative to pursue the case, which has been made public through the media," said Commission A chairman Achmad Suaidy.

However, Speaker Ade Surapriatna argued that the reports had to be submitted to the governor first since the case was related to the use of the city budget.

"The authority to control the use of the city budget is in the governor's hands. That's why we will discuss the matter further with the governor whether the case will be submitted to law enforcers," Ade said.