Village chiefs steal aid

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Governor La Ode Laimoeddin was furious over reports that three village chiefs in the province have embezzled presidential aid for poor villages.

One of the corrupt village chiefs reportedly used assistance funds to pay his children's school fees.

"The village chiefs may be dismissed if they are found guilty. How can an official misuse the aid earmarked for impoverished villages to pay his children's school tuition?" he said Saturday.

The officials, who embezzled a total of Rp 6.5 million (US$2,700), are chiefs of the villages of Mamu, Amolenggo and Saponda. They are identified only as LJ, ABR and SJ respectively.

The governor said over 400 of a total of 809 villages across the province are categorized as "poor" and eligible for the presidential aid, Antara reported.

"I am always obsessed with reducing poverty in the villages, and I was extremely dismayed to hear there are village chiefs who have the heart to steal the aid," La Ode said. (pan)