Team established to probe property mismanagement

Team established to probe property mismanagement

JAKARTA (JP): The city municipality in cooperation with the
National Land Agency has set up a special team to probe
malfeasance that has led to the "disappearance" of several city
properties, according to an official.

Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi told
reporters Saturday the team was due to investigate a series of
cases involving the undisclosed handover of some of the city's
assets.

"The team will investigate all the cases thoroughly and
question everyone allegedly involved," Kahfi said. He did not
elaborate on the number of team members or when the team was
founded.

Reports recently revealed several properties, ranging from
open plots to buildings such as schools and houses, have been
sold to other parties by corrupt officials.

The assets included the 2,187-square-meter plot on Jl.
Matraman which was "owned" by privately owned Bank Bira and a
school located on 5,000-square-meters of land in Duri Kepa, West
Jakarta, which was reportedly sold for Rp 7.5 billion (US$1.67
million) to a private company.

"We'll keep an open mind on this matter. Within the city's
total assets worth Rp 700 billion, there must be leakages here
and there. We can not be absolutely sure that all the assets can
be saved," Kahfi said.

He said the city would start relisting its properties and
thoroughly investigate the current status of the assets.

"We heard that many of our properties have been handed over to
someone else. We need to check this and prove it," he said.

Kahfi promised to reveal the results of the investigation upon
its completion.

"And if some city officials are found guilty in these property
cases, we will punish them according to the existing laws," he
said.

Governor Sutiyoso said his administration would trace all of
the city's properties and pledged to return them all.

"Municipality assets can not be easily sold just because some
officials try to gain personal benefits. It's state property. It
belongs to the people. Therefore, we will take necessary action
to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands," he said Friday.

He said the municipality would trace and list every city
property.

"Small or big ... we want it back where it is supposed to be."

City councilors recently urged the city administration to
pursue all of its assets to find out whether they still exist or
have been illegally sold or handed over to other parties.

Councilor Lukman Mokoginta from Commission D for development
affairs said the municipality should have asked for a
recommendation from the City Council for any transactions of the
properties.

"Whatever the transaction may be, councilors have a right to
know because state assets have to be used for the sake of all
people," Lukman said.

He urged the municipality to settle the matter and find a way
to return the assets to the municipality.

Councilor Saud Rachman agreed.

"It's ridiculous if the city can not control and supervise its
own property.

"I suggest that city officials settle the issue immediately
before it's too late, because the longer they neglect it, the
harder it will for them to trace the properties," he said. (edt)