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Ahok to be questioned again on UPS graft case
Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama will testify as a witness on Thursday in connection with a graft case on the procurement of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units for schools in Central and West Jakarta in 2014.
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A security officer at the Jakarta Corruption Court welcomes Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama through the court's security gate on Feb. 4. Ahok was in attendance at court to testify at a hearing regarding the procurement of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units by the Jakarta city administration. (thejakartapost.com/Wienda Parwitasari)
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akarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama will testify as a witness on Thursday in connection with a graft case on the procurement of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units for schools in Central and West Jakarta in 2014.
“I received information from investigators that the governor will be questioned as a witness in the UPS case handled by the National Police's criminal division,” said National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Agus Rianto on Wednesday as reported by tribunnews.com.
The police have thus far named four suspects in the case, including two civil servants: Alex Usman, former infrastructure division head at the West Jakarta Education Office and Zaenal Soleman, former head of the Central Jakarta Education Office. Two city councilors were also named, Fahmi Zulfikar, a Hanura Party councilor and member of the council’s Commission E overseeing people’s welfare, and M. Firmansyah, a Democratic Party councilor during the 2009 to 2014 period.
The police require Ahok’s testimony to complete its documents, said Agus. “With the governor’s testimony, I hope that the police can finish the case immediately,” he added.
Thursday’s questioning will be the second time Ahok has been required to testify with regard to the case. The police questioned him for the first time on July 29, 2015.
The UPS procurement was included in the revised 2014 city budget at a price of Rp 6 billion (US$433,839) per unit for each school, with a total budget of Rp 300 billion. Ahok previously said that the procurement was not discussed when the budgetary team had debated a budget document known as the General Budget Policies and Provisional Budget Ceiling and Priorities (KUA-PPAS).
Ahok became involved in serious conflict with city councilors due to the UPS procurement because there were two versions of the 2015 city budget bill – the city administration version and a city council version. The budget double up came to light after the 2015 city budget was returned by Home Affairs Ministry for revision.
Consequently, the budget deliberation ended with a deadlock and the city administration was forced to use the 2014 city budget scheme for its 2015 city budget. (bbn)
