Corruption is becoming increasingly rampant in Central Java as shown by the substantial increase in the number of corruption cases found over the last three years.

The number of corruption cases uncovered in 2010 more than quadrupled to 174 from only 39 in 2009 and only 29 in 2008, according to data from the Central Java Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism Eradication and Investigation Commission.

Chairman of the commission  Eko Haryanto said in Banyumas on Wednesday that most of the 35 regencies and cities engaged in corrupt practice. Nearly 90 percent of all corruption practices discovered in the regency and city level at the province were not thoroughly settled, he said.

At the national level, Home Ministry data shows that 17 of 33 governors throughout the country have been named suspects in graft cases.

“There are 17 governors who are named suspects, including [the] Bengkulu Governor [Agusrin M. Najamuddin],” Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi said on Monday.

Gamawan noted that two other governors — Riau Islands Governor Ismeth Abdullah and North Sumatra Governor Syamsul Arifin — were still facing legal processes for their alleged involvement in corruption cases.

The 17 problematic governors were part of the 155 heads of regional administrations who are being legally processed for alleged involvement in graft cases.

Most of the 174 cases discovered in the 35 regencies and cities in Central Java have been left without any adequate settlement, he added.

Eko said that of the 174 corruption cases in Central Java in 2010, 88 were still in the investigation stage, 39 had been legally settled, 38 were being tried, four were in the process of appeal and four others were cases whose investigation process was being evaluated.

He explained that 11 of the 174 cases were found in Semarang, nine in Temanggung and eight in Kendal.

Other regencies varied in the number of corruption cases having between two and seven cases, while Pekalongan has only one case.

“Total funds related to corruption reach about Rp 194 billion,” Eko said.

If Semarang has the highest number of graft cases, Cilacap regency has the highest amount of stolen wealth, reaching Rp 30 billion.

The Rp 30 billion in funds was robbed from the regental budget by local officials, including its regent, Eko said.

Karanganyar has the second largest amount of stolen state money  in Central Java with Rp 22 billion, followed by Salatiga at Rp 20 billion, he added.

Eko also said that the state money being stolen was mainly from the budget for infrastructure and social service assistance.

Popular

Indonesia not affected by Southeast Asia-wide heat wave: BMKG

Residents fear for safety as Mount Ruang volcano erupts

In defense of Indonesian democracy