Village chief admits selling supplies

BENGKULU, Bengkulu: Chief of Gunung Agung village in South Bengkulu, Sahari J., returned on Wednesday Rp 250,000 of earthquake relief funds to Bengkulu Deputy Governor Iskandar Ramis.

But he denied any wrongdoing and complained about media reports that had taken allegations he had sold quake relief supplies for his own benefit out of proportion.

Sahari said that he had sold rice and two boxes of instant noodles for Rp 250,000 because a humanitarian team needed money to deliver food supplies to other villages.

"Officials from the control center knew about it," he told Antara.

But Iskandar said that it was wrong to sell quake supplies for any reason as a distribution fund had already been provided by the local administration.

It remains unclear whether Sahari will be punished for the mistake. (09)