JAKARTA. Investigators from the Jakarta Police have confiscated Rp 1.5 billion (US$113,600) in the course of their investigation into alleged graft surrounding the procurement of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) facilities for public schools in Jakarta.

"We seized the Rp 1.5 billion based on the results of our investigation," Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul said as quoted by Antara in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He said the money was confiscated from a witness who was currently undergoing questioning; but he declined to reveal the identity of the witness.

Martinus went on to say that investigators had also raided a number of schools reported to have received the UPS facilities. From the raids, the police confiscated a number of documents related to the UPS procurement process, allegedly plagued by budget mark-ups.

He added that investigators had so far examined 12 out of 21 witnesses summoned for questioning. Nine witnesses have yet to answer their summonses.

The 12 witnesses comprise two officials, a supplier, four headmasters, four members of the procurement evaluation committee, and a former head of the Jakarta Education Agency.

Editor: Hendra Gunawan