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Housing chief sacked over land procurement scandal
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Jakarta Housing and Government Buildings Agency chief Ika Lestari Aji is photographed at the Archipelago Culinary Festival in Central Jakarta on June 14. (Kompas.com/Kurnia Sari Aziza)
J
akarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama officially dismissed Jakarta Housing and Government Buildings Agency head Ika Lestari Aji on Friday amid a corruption scandal concerning land procurement in West Cengkareng, West Jakarta.
There had been calls for Ika's dismissal was even before the scandal surfaced, Ahok said on Friday.
"With her dismissal, Ika will be able to focus on the legal process,," he told journalists at City Hall.
To replace Ika, Ahok has appointed Central Jakarta Deputy Mayor Arifin, who was inaugurated along with several other civil servants at City Hall on Friday. Arifin is seen as capable of proper management of land procurement for city low-cost apartments (rusunawa), Ahok said.
"Arifin is still young and has much experience. He told me he was ready for this job. I believe he can do his job well and maintain his reputation," he added.
Ika's position had looked untenable following a Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) finding over the purchase made by the city administration for a 4.6-hectares plot of land in West Cengkareng earmarked for the construction of a rusunawa. The city paid Rp 648 billion (US$49 million) for the land last year, only later to find that the land was already city-owned and registered under the Jakarta Fisheries, Agriculture and Food Security Agency.
The city's legal bureau reported alleged fraud surrounding the purchase to the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) on Wednesday. (rin)
