Ratu Atut"s Banten Projects Worth $100m Since 2011: ICW

Residents of South Tangerang in Banten province hold prayers commemorating Idul Adha on Tuesday. (JG Photo/Fajrin Raharjo)

Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah and her family controlled at least 175 provincial projects between 2011 to 2013 worth a combined Rp 1.14 trillion ($100 million), an anticorruption watchdog said on Wednesday.

“The total cost could be even higher if we dig deeper,” Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) coordinator Firdaus Ilyas told the Jakarta Globe on Wednesday. “We are still collecting and updating the data.”

ICW said the 175 contracts were fanned out among 10 companies owned directly by members of the governor’s family, and 24 affiliated firms. The antigraft observer said the findings were taken from the Banten government’s own data as well as records from the central Ministry of Public Works.

Firdaus said that the results of ICW’s preliminary research had shown the family had been involved at every stage of the tender process — from planning to procurement.

Ratu Atut was first elected the deputy governor of Banten in 2002, before rising to the governorship in 2005. Since then, she has won elections in 2007 and 2012. The 10 companies, Firdaus said, belong directly to 25 heirs of Chasan Sochib, Ratu Atut’s father.

The 25 heirs include three of Chasan’s widows and 22 of his children.

“We question the transparency of the goods and procurement of services in Banten province,” Firdaus said. “We suspect that all projects are conducted improperly, and the tender is a formality as the winner is already determined.

“From the companies’ profiles, [there are] 25 names where they sit as a director or commissioner. While the 24 affiliated companies are also suspected to be linked to the family” he said.

Tubagus Chaeri Wardana outside the Corruption Eradication Commission on Friday. (JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal)

The companies ICW suspect to be directly controlled by the family are Sinar Ciomas Wahana Putra, Ginding Mas Wahana NusaP, Unifikasi Profesional Media Consultant, Profesional Indonesia Lentera Raga, Andika Pradana Utama, Pelayaran Sinar Ciomas Pratama, Ratu Hotel, Putra Perdana Jaya, Balipacific Pragama and Buana Wardana Utama.

Masarykat Banten spokesman Oman Abdurrahman said that the projects were determined systematically before the release of the region’s budget.

“After the related offices acquire the budget documents, the companies’ names will be announced.” Oman said, as quoted by news portal Kompas.com. “Atut’s family have placed people to secure the project.”

Ratu Atut’s family spokesman Fitron Nur Ikhsan declined to provide much in the way of comment.

“ICW can release anything they want. But if the release is about the government’s projects then please contact the related offices directly,” he told the Jakarta Globe. “I can’t comment and I don’t have information on that.”

Atut was questioned as a witness by the Corruption Eradication Commission [KPK] on Friday for her younger brother, Tubagus Chaeri Wardana, also known as Wawan, who was named a suspect after allegedly bribing Constitutional Court Chief Justice Akil Mochtar to rig an election in Banten.

ICW called on the KPK to continue to probe the province’s finances.

“We urge the KPK to use this bribery case as a start from which they can reveal more cases of corruption in Banten,” Firdaus said. “There have been many reports and findings on how the public interest is compromised.”

The Marina Bay street circuit is illuminated at dusk in Singapore on Sept. 17, 2013. (Reuters Photo)

Grand prix

It has also emerged that Ratu Atut, Wawan and Akil Mochtar may have held meetings in Singapore.

Atut was in Singapore between March 4 to March 10 of this year, while Akil was also in the Lion City on March 7.

Atut was in Singapore again between Aug. 22 and Aug. 25, while Akil flew to Singapore on Aug. 22, and flew back to Jakarta the following day.

Wawan was registered to be in the city-state from Sept. 20 to Sept. 24; Atut from Sept. 21 to Sept. 24; and Akil from Sept. 21 to Sept. 23.

A photo showed Wawan watching the Singapore Grand Prix with members of the Banten City Council’s budget committee.

Akil’s attorney refused to be drawn on the information.

“I need to meet him first,” Otto Hasibuan said. “That’s what I want to clarify with Akil because I have just received this information. It is better if I meet him then give a statement.”

Ratu Atut"s Banten Projects Worth $100m Since 2011: ICW