Head of the Jakarta Unity, Nationality and Politics Body Ratiyono said the administration used those funds because there was no money allocated in the city budget for purchasing computers. “Meanwhile, the revised city budget is now still being deliberated,” Ratiyono said in Jakarta on Tuesday as reported by kompas.com.

Ratiyono explained that one of the conditions of PT Sampoerna Land expanding the building floor coefficient (KDB) of one of its projects was a requirement to pay compensation amounting to Rp 10.2 billion (US$782,358) to the city administration.

Apart from being used to assist KPU Jakarta and Bawaslu Jakarta, the fund was, among others, also used to renovate and paint buildings as well as purchase furniture and generator sets.

Previously, during a hearing involving KPU Jakarta and City Council’s Commission A overseeing political affairs, a number of councillors had questioned the use of computers purchased with funds from a developer. In response, KPU Jakarta planned to return the computers to the city administration.

Ratiyono has stressed that the use of such funds was based on existing regulations. However, according to Gubernatorial Regulation No. 175/2015, such funds should only be used to finance urban public facilities, and not be spent on the procurement of such equipment to be used by third parties. (bbn)

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