Two Dekel members detained for graft

JAKARTA: Two members of the subdistrict council (Dekel) in Serdang, Kemayoran district, are now under police detention for allegedly misusing Rp 700 million of a community empowerment fund (PPMK), Central Jakarta Mayor Petra Lumbun said on Friday.

Lumbun said a member of Paseban subdistrict council was also suspected of appropriating Rp 60 million.

Twenty-five out of 167 subdistricts in the city received a fund of Rp 2 billion for community empowerment projects in 2001. In 2002, all subdistricts, except the 25 subdistricts, received the fund, with each obtaining Rp 250 million in aid per year.

In 2003, the fund allocation was increased to Rp 500 million per subdistrict, despite widespread reports about the misuse of the money by subdistrict representatives.--JP