APSN | Government spends $1.6 million per month to pay officials convicted of graft

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Government spends $1.6 million per month to pay officials convicted of graft

Jakarta Post - September 7, 2018

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Jakarta – The government is spending a huge amount of money on the salaries of civil servants who have been convicted of graft, the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) has said.

The money spent is estimated to be Rp 23.57 billion (US$1.6 million) per month.

"A rough estimate is about an average of Rp 10 million multiplied by 2,357 civil servants, which equals to Rp 23.57 billion a month," BKN spokesman Mohammad Ridwan told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

He said the estimate was not official and that only the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) had the authority to calculate the exact number. "The [amount in] state losses is huge. But the exact number can only be calculated by the BPK," he said.

The BKN revealed on Tuesday that of the 2,674 civil servants that were convicted of corruption, 317 were dishonorably dismissed, meaning the remaining 2,357 are still active as civil servants and, therefore, still get a monthly salary.

Employment data of the convicted civil servants has been blocked by the agency to avoid further state loss. The move affects the civil servants' jobs, such with promotions, job rotations and raises.

However, the termination of the payroll for civil servants requires a decree issued by each personnel supervisor (PPK), including the minister, governor, mayor and regent.

"We can block the employment data but it's not enough. Only the PPKs have the authority to dishonorably dismiss them," Ridwan said. "The PPKs, do not hesitate to fire them," he added.

The agency, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Home Ministry and the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry are currently discussing the government's measure in handling the problem.

KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo previously said that the commission was calculating the amount in state losses. (sau/ahw)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/09/07/govt-spends-1-6-million-per-month-to-pay-officials-convicted-of-graft.html.