Law Enforcers Handle 120 Cases Of Social Aid Funds

Padang, March 13 (ANTARA) - There have been 120 cases of social aid (Bansos) funds handled by law enforcers since 2007 with potential loss of Rp411 trillion in state fund. "Based on data collected by the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) there were 120 cases of misuses of Banson funds in six years since 2007," an ICW investigator Febri Diansyah said here on Monday. Bansos funds are provided as a grant by the government for various social purposes to improve the welfare of the people. Febri said some of the suspects in the 120 cases have been tried and convicted. He said the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) takes part in the investigations of 20 of the cases. Based on the investigations, around Rp411 trillion of the Bansos Funds had been embezzled or illegally used for own interest by officials in the regions, he said. The suspects used various methods of embezzling the funds . Some of the funds were given as grants to fictitious non governmental organizations set up to receive the funds. The authority to use the hand of the regional administrations , Febri said, adding some of the funds had been illegally used to finance political campaigns ahead of elections of regional leaders. He said the uses and allocations of of Bansos funds must be transparent and accounted for. "The people should take part in controlling the uses of Bansos funds," he added. He said Bansos funds have been potential target of illicit practices because of lack of transparency in the allocation of the funds especially there are various areas and bodies entitled to Bansos funds . The absence of system or weak mechanism for the allocations and distribution of Banson Funds make them an easy target of corruption , he said. "The funds are provided to help poor people but most of the funds could have gone to corrupt officials," he said. He suggested the government made a clear regulation with fixed standards for the distribution and allocation of the funds to prevent or reduce misuses . The fund should not be used for political purposes , he added.