Hamid's wealth near doubled

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 04/30/2008 1:10 PM  |  National

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced Tuesday a 75 percent increase in the value of former justice minister Hamid Awaluddin's wealth during his three-year term.

Hamid's reported assets were valued at some Rp 1.5 billion (US$163,000) and US$3,000 when he left the Cabinet of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in May last year. Before his appointment in October 2004, his wealth amounted to some Rp 890 million and $3,000.

Hamid, who was recently inaugurated as Indonesian Ambassador to Russia, had a considerable increase in his savings from Rp 40 million to Rp 585 million during his term.

The KPK's deputy chairman for prevention, Haryono Umar, said the commission would seek clarification on Hamid's wealth increase.

"We will conduct an investigation into the report to make sure that these hikes were not results of corruption," he said.

On the same day, the anti-graft body also announced the wealth report of former attorney general Abdul Rahman Saleh.

Abdul Rahman, the Indonesian Ambassador to Denmark, reported a total wealth valued at around Rp 1.4 billion ($152,600) a month after his dismissal in May 2007. His wealth included Rp 969 million in saving and Rp 354 million in the form of land and buildings.

He declared a total net worth of about Rp 1.2 billion before taking up the attorney general post in October 2004.

While making public his wealth report at the KPK office in Kuningan, South Jakarta, Abdul Rahman said that during his service his only source of income was his monthly salary.

"I had stopped doing business after taking the state job in 2004," said Abdul Rahman, who was previously a public lawyer and notary.

Unlike Abdul Rahman, Hamid didn't turn up for the wealth announcement, citing ill health.

As mandated by the 1999 anti-corruption law, all state officials are obliged to report their wealth prior to assuming their terms and upon completion.

However, Haryono said there was no strict penalty yet for officials who failed to comply with the regulation.

"Currently, should any official fail to follow the rule, he or she would face an administrative penalty. It's up to their superiors to decide on the form of the penalty," he said.

Haryono said the KPK expected to complete verification of the wealth reports before Hamid and Abdul Rahman begin their foreign postings. (dre)

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