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Poll panel probed over corruption claim

Source
Straits Times - March 22, 2000

Jakarta – The Indonesian government said it would investigate the alleged embezzlement of some 117 billion rupiah (S$23.4 million) by the General Elections Commission (KPU) during last year's polls.

Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi Sodirdja said: "The government will certainly follow up, in an objective manner, the Supreme Audit Agency's report on results of its recent audit on the election commission."

"We are studying the report. If an embezzlement is found, all persons involved in the case will be punished," he said on Monday.

Leaked copies of the audit indicate a questionable and unexplained spending of 117 billion rupiah, partly from funds provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Mr Surjadi said the election commission, as an independent institution, should be made accountable and explain the discrepancies in the audit agency's report. "The KPU, as an agency, has a chairman and secretary-general. They must be made accountable for the alleged corruption," he said.

Asked about the alleged involvement of Mr Amur Muchasim, the KPU's former Secretary-General, Mr Surjadi said he should be one of the persons questioned about the commission's expenditures. "It could be that election commission Chairman Rudini knew nothing about the alleged embezzlement but the Secretary-General should know about it," he said. Mr Amur is now Secretary-General to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Mr Adnan Buyung Nasution, the KPU Deputy Chairman, supported a full investigation into the allegations. "We must thank the audit agency for its success in foiling corruption. Both the government and law enforcement institutions should look into it immediately," he said.

He acknowledged that he had suspected some impropriety and even called for an audit some time ago. However, it was rejected by the commission Chairman. "It was strange to see several representatives of political parties in the election commission filing a lawsuit against me for trying to reveal the alleged corruption. But they must realise now that what I did was right," he said.

He said the case had tarnished the election commission's image both at home and overseas since a part of the election budget was received from foreign countries under the coordination of UNDP.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said the House would follow up the findings and ask the National Police and Attorney-General's Office to investigate the report.

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