Hamid fails to report wealth

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 03/26/2008 12:37 PM  |  National

Designated Ambassador to Greece and former law and human rights minister Hamid Awaluddin has failed to report his wealth three times to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

KPK deputy chairman overseeing crime prevention Haryono said Tuesday Hamid was supposed to be present to declare his wealth to the body that day.

"We previously summoned him twice, but he has not come," Haryono announced at a press conference.

The KPK would set a new date for Hamid to report his assets, he said.

After serving as General Elections Commission member, Hamid was appointed as a minister under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a post he assumed between October 2004 and May 2007.

Last November, Hamid won support from the House of Representatives for a new posting as an envoy, but has not been sworn in yet.

Before his appointment to cabinet, KPK recorded Hamid's wealth amounted to some Rp 890 million (US$96.739) and $3,000, and predicted his assets could now be worth some Rp 1.5 billion and $3,000.

"We actually summoned him today (Tuesday) to verify our wealth calculation," Haryono said.

He said the anti-corruption body expected to see more public officials take the initiative to report their assets for the sake of public transparency.

Also Tuesday, KPK announced the wealth of Disadvantaged Areas Minister Lukman Edi reached Rp 2.5 billion at June 2007, almost double his wealth in December 2003 which stood at Rp 1.4 billion.

Lukman served as a Riau legislature member between 2003 and 2004. He was appointed minister in the second cabinet reshuffle in May, 2007, replacing Syaifullah Yusuf.

"I was supposed to report my wealth two weeks ago but I couldn't because of some business matters," Lukman told journalists.

Commenting on the wealth increase over the last four years, Lukman said he had taken up business after completing his tenure in Riau.

The 1999 anticorruption law requires all public officials to declare their wealth before they take office and after completing their tenure. (ewd)

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