Sutiyoso vows tough action on Ancol scam

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso renewed his pledge on Friday that city officials connected to irregularities in three overseas trips sponsored by PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol (PJA) would receive fair and just treatment.

His statement came following the start of a formal investigation by the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office into the alleged scam.

The governor said his decision concerning City Development Agency chief Bambang Soengkono and City Land Agency chief Ahmaddin Ahmad, who escaped administrative sanctions, was subject to change.

"My decision concerning Bambang and Ahmaddin is not final yet. I will punish them if they are found guilty," Sutiyoso told reporters after Friday prayers at City Hall.

The chief of the prosecutor's team for the case, Tengku Dasril, has said that all 18 city officials who had already been questioned, including Bambang, Ahmaddin, Sutiyoso and City Secretary Fauzi Bowo, "could be named suspects".

The Ancol scam centers around allegations that PJA Ancol paid Rp 2.1 billion to fund overseas trips for 45 city councillors and officials to three different destinations -- South Africa, Australia and Japan, in October last year.

Bambang and Ahmaddin, who joined the overseas trips, were declared not guilty on grounds that they went abroad upon the governor's approval.

Nine officials, mostly lower-ranking staffers, were found guilty of misuse of funds and making the trips without the governor's knowledge.

Sutiyoso said on Friday he had taken fair measures against the officials.

"I have done everything I could to solve the problem based on the people's desire, including the recent decision to dismiss PJA president director," he said.

PJA top executive Rushadi was dismissed during the company's extraordinary shareholders meeting on Wednesday.

In its investigation report submitted to the governor, the City Inspectorate stated that Rushadi had proposed to Sutiyoso in his capacity as PJA chief commissioner a US$270,000 budget for the trips, in which he also took part. Reportedly without waiting for the governor's approval, Rushadi disbursed $311,286.

The report said the fund was taken from the company's 2000 budget set for its coastal reclamation master plan.

PJA is part of the PT Pembangunan Jaya chain, of which more than 80 percent is owned by the city administration. (04)