"Disciplinary action was taken against about half of the employees named in the reports because they could not explain and account for the origins of the money," Agus Martowardojo said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo has stated that the Financial Transactions Analysis and Report Centre (PPATK) has reported 97 suspicious transactions, made over the past five years, involving finance ministry employees.

"The suspicious transactions took place during the 2007-12 period. We followed up all the reports because there were suspicious transactions and swelling accounts," he said after attending the Corruption-Free Integrity Zone Declaration event here on Wednesday.

"Disciplinary action was taken against about half of the employees named in the reports because they could not explain and account for the origins of the money," Agus continued.

"A total of 170 employees were punished for their offenses, 10 thereof were fired or are in the process of getting fired, and six others were reported to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)," he added.

Agus expressed hope that the PPATK would continue to cooperate with the finance ministry, particularly with the directorate general of taxation, in investigating accounts suspected to be related to tax embezzlement and money laundering.

"The PPATK must play its intelligence role, but it has to provide information if the directorate general of taxation asks for it because the directorate general should be convinced whether or not the tax relating to the suspicious transaction has been paid," he explained.

"If money laundering is suspected in any account, the legal apparatuses must investigate the case in order to minimise losses to the state exchequer," Agus stated.

"Those found guilty in such cases must be punished. We call on all legal enforcers to join hands to fight corruption," the minister added.

Meanwhile, KPK spokesman Johan Budi said here on Wednesday that the KPK was currently examining 10 reports on suspicious transactions (LHA), which were filed by the PPATK.

"The KPK has received four LHAs involving seven people from a company which has been named in a number of cases that we are investigating at the moment," he noted.

The KPK is also investigating a corruption case involving the construction of Hambalang sports training and education centre in Bogor, West Java.

The anti-graft agency has named Deddy Kusdinar, former chief of the Planning Bureau of the Ministry of Sports and Youths Affairs, as a suspect in the case.

"Besides, the KPK also investigated corruption cases in connection with Regional Infrastructure Adjustment Funds (DPID), involving Wa Ode Nurhayati; a development budget scheme in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs and the Ministry of National Education, with Angelina Sondakh as defendant; and a deal for procurement of goods and services by the Religious Affairs Ministry, in which Zainuddin Djabar, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission VIII on religious affairs, was named as a suspect," Budi said.

"The cases are worth billions of rupiahs," he added.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012