Graft case at RI Embassy in China to be investigated

Arghea Desafti Hapsari ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 10/11/2008 11:27 AM  |  Headlines

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) is currently investigating corruption charges involving the misappropriation of visa fees by two ex-foreign envoys formerly stationed at the Indonesian Embassy in China.

Assistant Attorney General for special crimes Marwan Effendi said the case concerned the collection of fees charged for visas, passports and special travel documents (SPLP) between May 2000 and October 2004.

"The fees did not go to the state coffer, but to individuals at the embassy," Marwan said.

The misappropriations resulted in state loses of 10.27 million Yuan (US$1.5 million) and US$9,613, the AGO said.

Marwan said a decree on immigration fees issued by the Indonesian ambassador to China on Sept. 24, 1999, stipulated a revised procedure for channeling the money.

The decree stated that the embassy should charge an applicant 55 Yuan (US$7.00) for a passport.

Marwan refused to identify the suspects, saying the investigation was still underway.

Lt. Gen. (ret) Kuntara and Rear Adm. (ret) Anak Agung Kustia both served as Indonesian ambassador to China between 1999 and 2004.

This is the third case disclosed by the country's anti-graft bodies since 2004, with the Corruption Eradication Commission announcing the other two.

The Corruption Court sentenced former Indonesian envoy to Malaysia A. Hadi Wayarabi to twenty-four months in prison and his successor Rusdihardjo to two years in prison for doubling immigration fees.

The same court is trying former Indonesian envoy to Singapore M. Selamet Hidayat for allegedly marking up the budget for renovating the embassy's office building and adjoining housing complex.

Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Teuku Faizasyah said the ministry fully supported investigations into corruption cases implicating the country's diplomats.

"The ministry has always cooperated by giving evidence and making testimonies when it comes to investigations into graft cases and we will do the same with regard to the case involving the Indonesian Embassy in China," Teuku said, adding that the majority of graft cases at embassies were committed by immigration officials.

He said he did not know if the decree issued by the former Indonesian envoy to China in 1999 had been reported to the ministry.

"If it is proven that the embassy collected extra fees for visas or passports, then the perpetrator should be punished," he said.

Teuku said the ministry had found irregularities involving the country's foreign mission during internal investigations.

"These findings are the result of the ministry's internal reform, which includes reforms on administrative affairs," he said.

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