The scandal revolves around allegations that officials marked up airline ticket prices in their expense claims.

“I won’t burn the whole ministry down just to cover for a handful of officials,” Marty said Friday during a visit to The Jakarta Post.

“We have to consider the innocent officials who likely have no idea what’s going on.”

He stressed the administrative punishments meted out to the suspected officials would not stop a criminal probe being launched.

The minister also said he had a “moral compass” in deciding what should be done in the case.

He denied recent media reports suggesting he had circumvented a possible AGO investigation by disclosing the case to the investigators and handing down only administrative punishment.

“We admit there have been irregularities and corruption,” Marty said. “What else can you call such practices? I’ve punished the perpetrators accordingly, firing some and demoting others.”

He added the AGO would deal with the criminal aspect of the case.

“I can tell you this: The case won’t break the Foreign Ministry’s back or distract us from our duties vis-à-vis foreign policy or diplomacy,” he said.

“We have other far more important things to worry about.”

The case first came to light when Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) submitted a report on alleged graft in the ministry to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) earlier this month.

The antigraft watchdog alleged that from 2008 to 2009, diplomats stationed overseas marked up their airfare for their transfers back to Jakarta, thus inflating their expense claims to the ministry and causing US$2.19 million in state losses.

Marty dismissed reports he had mishandled the case by reassigning two of the suspected officials
overseas.

“The appointment of ambassadors was done long before the case emerged, so there’s no connection at all between the postings and the case,” he said.

Foreign Ministry secretary-general Imron Cotan and inspector general Dienne H. Moehario are both named in ICW’s report.

The latter alleges Imron withdrew more than Rp 2 billion ($210,500) from an unofficial “tactical fund” or “non-budgetary fund”, where money from the ticket markups was allegedly pooled.

Imron has been named the ambassador to China, while Dienne will head the Indonesian mission in Canada.

Marty stressed he had not ignored the impact that the accusations of embezzlement would have on the newly named envoys, saying he had been forced to “redigest” the situation.

Popular

Indonesian hotel chain confirms exit from Cuba

Corruption scandals, rupiah fall revive reshuffle talks

Waiting is not an option