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)