he Jakarta administration has denied corruption allegations regarding the construction of two hospitals and 18 community health centers (Puskesmas) inaugurated by Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat on Wednesday following the police’s move to investigate the alleged graft in the project.
The Jakarta Health Agency said a delay in the construction of the health facilities developed by PT Hana Huberta and PT PP Pracetak was not caused by graft.
The companies planned to finish the development of the facilities in December last year but, instead, they completed it in August this year.
Jakarta Health Agency secretary Een Haryani said the development was hampered by the lengthy asset write-off process by the Jakarta Financial Management Body (BPAD).
“As they were late to finish the project, we haven’t fully paid the contractors. As of now, we’ve just paid 45 percent of the total payment,” Een said.
The administration had imposed a Rp 3 billion fine on the contractors that was paid by the companies, she said.
Separately, Djarot has allowed the police to continue the investigation.
"If there were people who 'played' with the project and [if they are] proven guilty, the police could act firmly against them," he said.
Previously, National Police corruption department deputy director Erwanto Kurniadi said the police had received a public report regarding the alleged graft in the project.
"The corruption department was conducting the preliminary investigation and communicating with the BPK [Supreme Audit Agency] to see whether there were state losses coming from the construction," Erwanto said.
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