Slamet Susanto, Yogyakarta – Scores of anticorruption youth protesters in Bantul regency, Yogyakarta, grouped under the Bantul Corruption Eradication People's Movement (Gebrak), held a rally on Wednesday to collect coins to help the local prosecutor's office pursue graft cases.

They argued that one of the reasons for the sluggish handling of graft cases by the prosecutor's office was a lack of funds.

"This is our way of showing our concern about the widespread graft cases," Gebrak spokesman Agus Bachtiar said on the sidelines of the coin-raising event at the regency's legislative council on Wednesday.

Previously, the Bantul prosecutor's office openly said it lacked funds in handling corruption cases, especially the alleged graft behind the purchase of the regency-owned Radio Bantul station, which reportedly caused state losses of Rp 1.7 billion (US$188,700).

The case came to light following an investigation in 2010 on the procurement of the radio station by the regency administration in which a former Bantul regent was reportedly one of the previous owners of the station. Many people questioned the credibility of its price.

"Surprisingly, the prosecutor's office said it did not have the funds to pay for the appraisal team," said Agus, adding that the case was only one of 13 graft cases that have not as yet been processed.

An independent appraisal team is needed to determine whether the purchase price of the radio station was viable. The prosecutor's office has consulted with appraisal company PT Secofindo about the fee.

Head of the prosecutor's office, Retno Irijati, said at present her office did not have the Rp 185 million needed for the appraisal to reveal the alleged graft case. "We are still seeking directives from the provincial prosecutor's office and Attorney General's Office, but have not as yet received any," he said.

Agus Bachtiar, however, insisted that the cost needed to disclose the case should have been allocated from the state budget. "We believe this is a ruse to complicate the situation, as the regency has been dominated by the Idham Samawi collusion," said Agus, referring to a former Bantul regent and whose wife is the current regent.

By the end of the rally they had managed to collect Rp 308,800 in coins, which were then handed over to Retno Irijati. She, however, declined to accept the money, and the coins were eventually laid at the entrance to the prosecutor's office.

"We will wait to see the developments over the next two weeks. If needed, we will continue to collect coins to pay for the disclosure of graft cases," said Agus.