KPK seizes N.Sumatra governor’s Jaguar

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 09/03/2010 8:40 AM

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confiscated a luxury car it believed was purchased with money stolen by North Sumatra Governor Syamsul Arifin, whom it has named a suspect in a multi-billion rupiah graft case.

The light blue Jaguar was confiscated from Beby Ardiana, Syamsul’s daughter.

“We suspect that the car was purchased with money that Syamsul illegally earned,” KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said.

Syamsul was accused of embezzling state money while he was regent of Langkat in North Sumatra from 2000 to 2007.

“Beby came to hand over the car at around 7 a.m.,” Priharsa said.

Beby, the operational director of PT Lembu Andalas, surrendered the car a day after she was questioned by the KPK as a witness in her father’s case.

The 2003 Jaguar was purchased for Rp 600 million in 2004. It will now be stored at the state-run Deposit and Confiscation House in Cipinang, East Jakarta.

The KPK named Syamsul, who is also a member of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) representing North Sumatra, a suspect in the case in April this year.

The alleged graft was uncovered by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) following its audit on the financial report of Langkat regency.

The report, released on March 16, 2009, pointed at alleged misappropriation of funds from the regency budget between 2000 and 2007, which resulted in Rp 102 billion in losses to the local administration.

The losses were caused by unaccounted funds spent on projects that were not included in the local administration’s budget. Among the large spending was Rp 21.5 billion that the regent claimed was allocated for the activities of some “working units”.

The Langkat administration reportedly collected money from companies, much of which was diverted for personal use by local officials.

Some groups filed reports with the KPK on June 13, 2009, and the KPK began investigations on July 14, 2009. So far, Syamsul has returned Rp 67 billion of the money to the state. However, the KPK is continuing its investigations on allegations that he violated the corruption law. (lnd)