T

ojo Unauna (Touna) regency council in Central Sulawesi has uncovered signs of corruption at the local branch of state tap-water company PDAM in a Rp 41 billion (US$3.4 million) procurement project and a Rp 414 billion training program for technicians at a bottled-water facility.

'€œThe alleged corruption came to light after an investigation by the PDAM special committee and a meeting between the local legislature and [Touna] PDAM,'€ said former Touna regency council speaker Samsurizal Labatjo.

Samsurizal said that Touna deputy regent Jamal Djuraedjo '€” who has served as director of the Magali PDAM '€” had been reported by company management to the Central Sulawesi Prosecutor'€™s Office on suspicion of graft.

According to Samsurizal, the council has identified a number of irregularities concerning eight projects run by Touna PDAM between 2008 and 2010. In addition, a special committee identified irregularities regarding other PDAM activities, including a plumbing contract in Padang Uloyo village worth some Rp 1.3 billion.

Based on findings by the Touna regency council special committee, last week the Central Sulawesi Prosecutor'€™s Office met with Jamal as well as Samsurizal.

Samsurizal said he had been summoned because he was the one who had ordered the investigation when he was head of the Touna regency council special committee.

'€œI am regarded as the most knowledgeable on the misappropriation of the funds involving Jamal,'€ Samsurizal told The Jakarta Post on Monday, explaining the reason he was summoned.

Central Sulawesi Prosecutor'€™s Office spokesman Eki Moh Hasim said his office was still building the case, gathering evidence and conducting interviews.

'€œWe have only examined two persons; the former Touna regency speaker [Samsurizal] and the deputy regent [Jamal],'€ Eki said.