Bandung, Makassar, Yogyakarta – A total of at least 78 regional high-ranking officials across three provinces are either being tried or investigated for alleged corruption.
Most of those involved in the three provinces, South Sulawesi, West Java and Yogyakarta, are incumbent and former regency legislators.
The Makassar District Court in South Sulawesi last week started the trials for current and former Luwuk regency administration executives and legislators on corruption charges in a case involving more than Rp 1 billion (US$111,000) of regency funds.
The 32 accused are former Luwuk regent Basmin Mattayang, who is currently seeking reelection, former regency secretary Andi Baso Gani, regency financial department head Muhammad Sabila, regency legislative council chairman Hidayat Nur Talib, and 28 current and former legislators in the regency legislative council.
They are accused of having either disbursed or received a total of Rp 1.05 billion from the miscellaneous expenditure allowance in the 2004 regency budget.
For misusing the money, the 32 have been charged with corruption, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, the prosecutors said.
In West Java, police are investigating an alleged scam related to a social welfare fund in the Garut regency budget worth a total of Rp 72.02 billion. Forty-five local legislators have been implicated in the case.
The investigation was launched after a report by Garut Government Watch disclosed the findings in an audit by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) of the alleged misappropriation of the fund in 2007 through a social security net scheme worth Rp 1.25 billion.
Investigations have found that funds have reportedly been disbursed to the councilors since 2005, reaching a total of more than Rp 72 billion.
"The BPK audit detected many fictitious building projects and nonexistent villages. We will find out where the funds have gone," West Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Dade Ahmad told The Jakarta Post in Bandung over the weekend.
Police are now seeking permission from West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan to question the 45 councilors.
In Yogyakarta, legislator Jarot Subiyanto, also a former regency legislative council chairman, was arrested early last month by Yogyakarta Police for alleged corruption in a textbook procurement project, involving Rp 13 billion.
Two regency executives, head of Sleman education office M Bahrum and project leader Matsoeko, were found guilty in the same case. Six other officials are standing trial in Sleman District Court.
Police are still investigating the case and said it might involve more suspects.
"We have gathered enough evidence about Jarot's involvement and therefore named him a suspect," Yogyakarta Police chief Brig. Gen. Untung S Radjab said after the arrest.