An Indonesian corruption watchdog has charged that a joint construction venture of Japanese and Indonesian companies tried to influence senior Indonesian officials to win a contract to improve facilities at the Surabaya airport in east-central Java.
Indonesian Corruption Watch, one of the leading nongovernmental organizations dedicated to preventing corruption in Indonesia, said it had obtained a report written by the governmental Financial Comptroller Agency (BPKP) indicating the joint venture among Kajima Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp. of Japan and Waskita Karya and Teguh Raksa of Indonesia was to have been disqualified from the bidding process after failing to meet administrative and technical standards during a pre-bid screening.
But ICW charges that the venture -- named Kawamite -- stayed in the bidding by sending letters to then Indonesian President B.J. Habibie and other senior ministers and officials to obtain their influence on Kawamite's behalf within the Transportation Ministry.
According to the financial comptroller's report made public by ICW, between July 1998 and November 1998 Kawamite corresponded with Habibie; Hartarto, then coordinating minister for development supervision and administrative reform; Giri Suseno, then transport minister; and Zainuddin Sikado, then director general of air transport. In the correspondence, Kawamite asked to be included in the next bidding stage despite its failure to meet initial requirements.