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orruption cases involving groups of officials are rife in Banyumas regency, Central Java, following the dismissal of Yudo Sulistiono, the head of Elections Security Affairs at the Banyumas office of National Unity and Community Protection (Kesbanglinmas), by Regent Mardjoko.

Yudo was convicted of embezzling funds from the budgets of the Central Java gubernatorial election and the legislative election, both in 2009, worth Rp 600 million (about US$70,500), part of a total Rp 3.2 billion that had been allocated to the Banyumas Kesbanglinmas.

Yudo was assigned the responsibility of managing Rp 663 million for meals and operational expenses for public order officers in 27 districts of Banyumas. However, only around Rp 400 million had been used, with the fate of the remaining amount unclear.

He was eventually examined by the Purwokerto Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly embezzling the funds and was sentenced to 20 years by the court three months ago.

He was fired as a civil servant last week but spoke out against his treatment. He said he was not the only person to enjoy the ill-gotten money and pointed to a number of other officials at the Banyumas regency administration, including his superiors.

“During the previous trial sessions I had never disclosed this due to the commitment that I would not be dismissed, but now that I’ve been fired I’m forced to disclose everything,” Yudo told reporters from his cell in the Banyumas penitentiary.

In prison, he has written 13 pages listing a chronology of events, including those individuals accepting money and the amount they received. “I have all the proof. I’m very disappointed. They must also be locked up like me,” said Yudo.

Some of the funds were allegedly given to a number of Banyumas regency administration officials as Idul Fitri bonuses in 2009. A number of local legislators also reportedly received Rp 15 million each to protect Regent Mardjoko, whom they had threatened to interpellate on public deceit charges.

In his campaigns before being elected as regent, Mardjoko promised he would bring in investors to build a bio-ethanol plant worth more than Rp 1 trillion in a joint-venture with PT HM Sampoerna, but that promise has never materialized.

Yudo listed a number of officials, including former regency secretary Iskandar Arifin who allegedly received Rp 2.5 million as an Idul Fitri bonus, and Banyumas Assets Financial and Income Management Office head Rasono, who allegedly received Rp 2 million.

Separately, when asked for confirmation, former Banyumas Kesbanglinmas head Kartiman, who is now head of the Social, Manpower and Transmigration Office, did not deny the holiday bonuses, but said they had been returned to Yudo.

“I have returned the money, even more than its amount. The money was actually allowances for a number of activities, but was given in the form of an Idul Fitri bonus,” said Kartiman.