Sutiyoso vows tough action on Ancol scam

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)