New Scam Allegations Against Fugitive Politician

Farouk Arnaz

The National Police have formed a special investigative team to probe new indications of corruption involving the Rokan Hulu district government in Riau Province.

Brig. Gen. Jose Rizal, the director of the National Police’s anti-corruption division, told the Jakarta Globe on Friday that the team would probe the procurement of five power generators and supporting equipment by Rokan Hulu Jaya, a company run by the Roka Hulu administration in 2005 and 2006.

He confirmed that former district head and fugitive from the law, Ramlan Zas, and his successor Ahmad, were on the list of people to be summoned for police questioning.

The team’s formation came after Supreme Audit Agency and the Finance and Development Supervisory Agency both found irregularities in the deal.

Jose said a full investigation would follow to determine the suspects. “We will start from the bottom and question the district head last,” he said.

The district administration has potentially lost Rp 45 billion ($3.78 million), including an allegedly inappropriate down payment of Rp 7.9 billion to PT Tiga Bintang Mas Abadi for the supply of the generators.

The power generators — which to this day have not arrived — have nevertheless been paid for in full.

Ramlan, the man who approved the purchase, is currently on the run from the law for another corruption case, this one involving Rp 9.5 billion allegedly misappropriated from the regional budget.

An anti-corruption official added that the police were also looking into additional allegations of ill-gotten profit by the former and current district heads .