JAKARTA. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) says that it has found no indication that president-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo misappropriated education funds in 2010 during his tenure as Surakarta mayor.

“According to the KPK’s investigation, no figures were found to have been manipulated in the Surakarta education fund (BPMKS). Jokowi is not involved with this case,” KPK deputy chairman Adnan Pandu Praja said on Tuesday as quoted by Antara news agency.

In 2012, civil group Selamatkan Solo, Selamatkan Jakarta, Selamatkan Indonesia (Save Solo, Save Jakarta, Save Indonesia) claimed that Jokowi had misappropriated BPMKS funds in 2010 totaling Rp 23 billion [US$1,885,710], which was meant to help 110,000 students.

“Their report contained false data, such as their initial claim of Rp 23 billion in BPMKS funds. After further investigation, we found that the funds actually totaled Rp 21.1 billion. Also, the 2010 BPMKS fund was not for 110,000 students but 54,626,” Pandu said.

Pandu added that after KPK investigators went through BPMKS transactional data, using a sample of Rp 4 billion worth of transactions, they found that no forgery or duplication had occurred.

BPMKS funds are used for school and educational operations and are not given out in cash form to its recipients, which comprise students and parents. The extent of BPMKS assistance is determined by one’s possession of a registered BPMKS card, with 438 schools in Surakarta currently implementing the assistance program. (dyl)

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie