0 Batam poll body chief detained

The Batam Prosecutor’s Office has arrested the head of the city’s Regional Election Commission (KPU), Hendriyanto aka Hendri Anak Rahman, for the alleged embezzlement of around Rp 1 billion (US$103,626) in grant funds for the mayoral election in 2010. Hendriyanto, who was declared a suspect on Sept. 10, 2012, was sent to Baloi detention center at around 6 p.m. on Thursday. The case centers around a Rp 17.3 billion grant from the Batam administration to the commission for the mayoral election. The fund was disbursed to the commission in two installments, Rp 13.5 billion in 2010 and Rp 3.8 billion the next year. 

The commission failed to meet the deadline to submit an accountability report of the fund to the Supreme Audit Agency. The prosecutor’s office estimates that at least Rp 1 billion was embezzled. Hendriyanto allegedly held various fictitious activities, including official trips for commission members and staffers that caused Rp 500 million in state loses. “It is probably more than that; we are delving further into the case,” Batam Prosecutor’s Office head I Made Astiti Ardjana told The Jakarta Post. Earlier, the office also named the secretary of the election commission, Saripuddin Hasibuan, and treasurer, Dedi Saputra, suspects and detained them at the Baloi detention facility. (iwa)

source : the jakarta post