Ex-manpower officials could face up to 6 years for graft

Ex-manpower officials could face up to 6 years for graft

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Prosecutors demanded up to six years in prison for two former officials of the ministry of manpower and transmigration charged with the embezzlement of foreign migrant workforce audit funds.

Former director general for education and inspections, Marudin Saur Marulita Simanihuruk, could face six years in prison if convicted, while the former head of the ministry's evaluation and report subdivision, Suseno Tjipto Mantora, could face four years.

Prosecutors have charged the two men with embezzling Rp 6.199 billion (US$673,804) of the Rp 7.817 billion allocated to audit the foreign migrant workforce through 46 of the ministry's regional offices and a unit at the ministry in 2004 and 2005.

Prosecutor Moch. Rum said Tuesday that Marudin and Suseno were being charged under articles of the 1999 law on corruption, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and fines of between Rp 200 million and Rp 1 billion for the misappropriation of state funds.

He demanded the Anti-Corruption Court fine Marudin Rp 350 million and Suseno Rp 200 million.

"Marudin must also return Rp 5.8 billion to the state," Rum said, adding that Marudin's assets could be confiscated to cover the losses.

He said the two men were also guilty of failing to hold a tender, as required by law, instead directly appointing the Johan Barus audit agency to carry out the project.

"They should have organized a tender to choose a more competent agency," Rum said.

Marudi said after the court session that the sentence demand was too harsh.

He then reiterated his claim of innocence.

"The appointment letter (for Johan Barus) was officially approved by then minister Fahmi Idris. I did not formulate it myself," he said.

"I only carried out what was written in the letter about appointing Johan Barus' audit agency.

"So, how can they declare me guilty of corruption?"

Fahmi Idris testified two weeks ago to the effect that he did not know about the embezzled money or its distribution among state officials.

Fahmi, who is now the minister of industry, defended the decision to directly appoint Johan Barus, saying there had not been enough time to conduct a tender for the audit project ordered by the President.

The court will reconvene next Tuesday to hear the defense statements of the two defendants. (ewd
source : thejakartapost.com