Sri Mulyani Reacts to Alleged Illegal Levies at TransportMinistry

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has called on her subordinates to step up alertness to possible irregularities in performing their public service. “I have instructed every supervisor to oversee their subordinates, to spot possible irregularities,” she saidWednesday at the Parliament complex in Jakarta.

The statement was made in response to the arrest of six Transport Ministry personnel by Jakarta Metro Police over alleged illegal levies.

The arrest was made at the counter of Shipping and Meritime Affairs Directorate, the Transport Ministry, at 6th floor. Illegal levies were allegedly imposed when a businessman filed for the Seafarers’ Identity Documents (SID). Investigators have confiscated Rp34 million bribe from PT SBI, PT CIS, and a maritime vocational school.

“Having developed the case, we have found flow of funds to the 12th floor,” said Jakarta Police Public Relations Division chief Sr. Comr. Awi Setiyono on Tuesday at the Transport Ministry. The 12th floor is the office of Division Head and Sub-Directorate Head of Shipping and Maritime Affairs, on which police confiscated Rp61 million in cash and Rp1 billion in savings.

Awi said police have yet to name any suspect following the arrests, adding that investigation is ongoing.

VINDRY FLORENTIN