TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama said that he has reported potential corruption in land procurement activities conducted by the Jakarta Regional Government to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). "I have told many things to the KPK. So the KPK has started to map [the problem]," Ahok said at the City Hall on Friday, March 18, 2016.
Ahok had also informed the KPK about several corruption methods used in land procurement. For example, Ahok said that there were parties who purchased land from one particular person. Another method, as Ahok explained, involves cancelling the land procurement process if the seller refuses to provide kickbacks.
"If [the seller] refuse to provide commission, the land procurement will be cancelled using various reasons," Ahok said.
Ahok however, admitted that he has no exact information on when the illicit practices first took place. Nevertheless, he claimed that the illegal practices have becoming so systematic that the Jakarta government decided to map the corruption network. One of the efforts carried out by the Jakarta government to eradicate corruption in land procurement includes gradually removing cash transactions.
Ahok had started to implement regulations banning cash transactions in land procurement. All transactions will be conducted through wire transfers to allow better tracking of financial transaction.
Ahok also said that one of the agencies in the Jakarta Provincial Government that often demands kickbacks in land procurement is the landscaping agency.
LARISSA HUDA
