National Education Department Corruption: Minister Demands Inspection
Tuesday, 05 February, 2008 | 16:11 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Depok: National Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo stated he has asked the Inspector General of National Education M. Sofian to examine the alleged corruption case in the Informal Education Directorate General.

“We haven’t verified it. I’ve asked the Inspector General to inspect it,” said Bambang when met after opening the “2008 National Education Gathering” in the National Education Department’s Center of Education and Training, Sawangan, Depok, West Java, yesterday (4/2).

Earlier, the Jakarta High Court signaled alleged corruption in the Informal Education Directorate General at the National Education Department. “There was Rp1.5 billion embezzlement,” said Jakarta High Court Chairman, Harry Heriawan, last Wednesday (30/1).

The fund was actually to be used for human resources improvement in several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Indonesia. Every NGO, he said, should have received Rp100 million. But, after auditing, 10 out of 15 NGOs funded were fictitious. “Their whereabouts are unclear,” said Harry.

In addition to that case, the Jakarta High Court found three other alleged corruptions. The first corruption case was in the grant for information technology device procurement in 286 areas. It was suspected that the embezzled funds amount to Rp2.024 billion.

Then the corruption case of direct assistance fund program managed by the Informal Education Equality Directorate General which was sourced from the 2006 Budget. The last one was the corruption case in the non-formal education institution’s restructuring.

During the 2006 budget year, out of the total budget of the Informal Education Directorate General Rp601.9 billion, Rp324 billion was the direct assistance fund. Out of that amount, Rp4.504 billion was allegedly embezzled.

Jakarta District Attorney’s assistance for Special Crime, M. Yusuf, could not announce the state loss due to the alleged corruption. “We’re still waiting for the audit result from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK),” he said. Yusuf also said he could not yet name the suspects in this case. “It’s still a secret,” he said.

REH ATEMALEM SUSANTI