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Ahok denies allegations APL funded Kalijodo evictions
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Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama answers questions from journalists after being questioned by antigraft investigators on Tuesday. Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators questioned Ahok as a witness in an alleged bribery case relating to land reclamation bylaw deliberations. (Antara/Hafidz Mubarak)
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akarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama on Wednesday denied allegations that PT Agung Podomoro Land (APL) funded the clearing of the Kalijodo red-light district in North Jakarta in early February in exchange for land reclamation projects.
Ahok was asked to comment on a report on koran.tempo.co on Wednesday, quoting former APL CEO Ariesman Widjaja as saying that APL had disbursed Rp 6 billion (US$451,808) to help the city administration fund the deployment of 5,000 security officers during the eviction.
Ariesman’s remark was, reportedly, made during his interrogation by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators.
Ariesman and another APL official have been named suspects by the KPK in connection with a bribery case involving city legislator Muhamad Sanusi. The case relates to the deliberation of two reclamation bills by the Jakarta City Council.
APL holds a reclamation permit to construct Islet G, one of the 17 islets to be developed in the Jakarta Bay. The company also constructed low-cost apartment buildings, including one on Jl. Daan Mogot, in West Jakarta.
“APL is not involved in the Kalijodo eviction,” Ahok stressed in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The involvement of APL in the construction of low-cost apartments for workers is part of the company obligatory contribution for its reclamation project, Ahok said, adding that the obligation to construct low-cost apartment was based on the calculation by appraisal consultants.
Ahok said he had explained the issue to the KPK investigators during the questioning on Tuesday. “I was asked [by KPK investigators] about the calculation process. I had explained that we used the appraisal’s calculation,” Ahok said on Wednesday.
Ahok said the administration always used appraisal consultants to decide the cost of any project.
Ahok said previously that PT Sinarmas Land, as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, would construct a park in the Kalijodo area for between Rp 50 billion and Rp 60 billion.
The park, construction of which will start this month and is scheduled to finish late this year, would be equipped with river water treatment, skating facilities and bicycle tracks along Krendang River, the governor added. (bbn)
