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Corruption, money laundering mar host’s preparations
Dody Iswandi - JP/Warta Kota/Syahrul MunirIndonesia faces a winding road ahead as host of the 18th Asian Games in 2018 following a corruption case implicating Indonesian Sports Committee (KOI) secretary general Dody Iswandi
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Dody Iswandi - JP/Warta Kota/Syahrul Munir
Indonesia faces a winding road ahead as host of the 18th Asian Games in 2018 following a corruption case implicating Indonesian Sports Committee (KOI) secretary general Dody Iswandi.
Dody has been named a suspect by the Jakarta Police for embezzlement and money laundering related to funds for a 2018 Games public information program worth Rp 61.3 billion (US$4.54 million). The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) claims that the alleged crime may have led to Rp 40 billion in state losses.
Events of the public information program, named “Carnival Road to Asian Games”, were held in Surabaya, East Java, Medan, North Sumatra, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Bandung, West Java, Palembang, South Sumatera, and Jakarta, and were hosted by the KOI. It was House of Representatives Commission X overseeing education, sports and history that first spotted the possible embezzlement of program funding.
Dody is requested to attend a questioning session at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Monday.
KOI deputy chief Muddai Madang said Dody had proposed to take leave starting Dec. 1 in order to deal with the legal case.
“I think [the legal case] is an individual matter. I hope it will not affect the work of the organization [that Dody is in] for the Games,” Muddai said in a release on Sunday.
Muddai was confident that the corruption case would not prevent the KOI and Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (Inasgoc) in making preparations for the 2018 Games, which will be co-hosted by Jakarta and Palembang.
“We respect the law and are giving Pak Dody a chance to focus on handling his case,” added Muddai.
Dody was once Inasgoc’s secretary general. However, he resigned from the post in June. The position was taken over by Sylviana Murni, who is now the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.
Due to Sylviana’s participation in the election, the position is now filled by acting secretary general Harry Warganegara.
Youth and Sports Ministry spokesman Gatot S. Dewa Broto said he hoped the ongoing case would not hamper Inasgoc in carrying out its duties.
“We are concerned about the current situation. However, we hope Inasgoc will not be affected at all, and will be able to continue with its ongoing projects.
“[The legal case] is a good reminder for all of us to be more careful in using state money,” said Gatot, adding that the ministry would be ready to convey its conviction to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) that preparations for the Games remain on track.
