Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – The Tangerang Prosecutor's Office will investigate a Rp 12.5 billion (US$1.47 million) corruption case in which 45 city councillors have been implicated. The plan to investigate the councillors is based on a report filed by non-governmental organization Independent Institute for State Apparatus Monitoring (Lipan).

The head of the prosecutor's office, Nandy Warsidi, confirmed on Monday that his office had just received the report.

"We will examine the report carefully and if we find any indications of criminal activity, then we will immediately form a team to investigate the deviation," Nandy told The Jakarta Post.

Lipan's report suggests that councillors marked up the allocation of funds for the council in the last two city budgets. They allege that last year's budget was marked up Rp 4 billion and this year's Rp 8.5 billion.

"We reported this violation of People's Consultative Assembly Decree No. XI and Law No.20/1999 on state freedom from corruption, collusion and nepotism," said the head of Lipan, Tatang Sago.

He said the 2002 and 2003 city budgets also violated Governmental Regulation No. 110/2000 on regional finance.

According to Lipan, the council's mark up was 100 percent more than their real needs during the two years. The head of the City Council's budget commission, TB Busro, refused to comment on this issue. "About the budget, you should ask the administration," said Busro.

One member of the City Council, Burhanuddin, said he was unaware of the issue and was therefore unable to comment.