KPK takes over book graft case

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 06/23/2008 10:36 AM  |  National

Due to the slow pace of the investigation led by Yogyakarta Police, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is taking over a corruption case thought to have caused Rp 13 billion (US$1.4 million) in state losses.

"We supervised their work and asked whether they were having any trouble. But the police were working too slowly, so we decided to take over the case," said KPK chairman Antasari Azhar on Saturday as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said the anti-graft body would continue the investigation into the case that has seen eight suspects, with six currently on trial.

Sleman Regent Ibnu Subiyanto remains a witness in the case, Antasari said.

"The regent is not yet a suspect. We don't have enough evidence against him," he said.

The case involves Rp 30 billion in state money disbursed to procure textbooks for elementary, junior and senior high schools by the Sleman regency administration in 2004.

The project was carried out without a public tender, but was approved by both the local administration and legislative council.

The project was assigned to the local education office to manage and was later delegated to publisher Balai Pustaka. A working contract was signed in May 2004.

In July last year, the Sleman District Court sentenced former local education office head Muhammad Bachrum to five years in jail and procurement committee chairman Masuko to four years.

Bachrum appealed his conviction and the Yogyakarta High Court later reduced his sentence to two-and-a-half years in prison.

Antasari said the KPK had recovered Rp 580 billion of state money and at least 50,000 hectares of land from corruption cases it resolved during his service from December last year.

This achievement should answer his critics who have questioned the KPK's performance under his leadership, Antasari said.

"Some cynics say the KPK is fueled by huge funds, but is unable recover corruption money," he said.

Antasari said the anti-graft body was monitoring on-rent state assets and inventories as well as working contracts involving foreign investors.

"The contracts include those in the petrol, mining and natural resources sector," he said.

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