UN Contractor Arrested for Diverting Aid
Charles Johnson
Thu Jan 27, 2005 at 4:06 pm PST • Views: 211
A leading United Nations contractor in Indonesia who is also the chairman of an “anti-corruption watchdog” group has been www.smh.com.au"...] target="_blank">www.smh.com.au”…] target=”_blank”>arrested for diverting large quantities of aid supplies, with help from the Islamic Defenders Front.
It should be noted, however, that last week he accused Indonesian officials of inflating refugee numbers to procure more aid. This could be payback, Aceh-style.
In a furore that threatens to undermine faith in the $10 billion relief effort, Farid Faqih, chairman of Government Watch and a leading United Nations contractor in Aceh, was in police custody yesterday after being apprehended by Indonesian air force officers.
Last night the United Nations said it was conducting its own investigation into the claims.
But at a press conference in Jakarta, Government Watch representatives insisted Mr Faqih had removed the aid for safekeeping.
A spokesman for the Indonesian military, Colonel D. J. Nachrowi, told the Herald that Mr Faqih had improperly removed medical supplies, hundreds of cooking stoves and other aid from the central depot at Banda Aceh airport.
Mr Faqih was arrested with three members of the Islamic Defenders Front, who allegedly assisted in the removal. The military then found large quantities of international aid in three warehouses operated by Mr Faqih.
“Mr Faqih took goods that were clearly not his,” Colonel Nachrowi said.
Mr Faqih appeared to have been badly beaten, but Colonel Nachrowi said it was unclear who was responsible.
Frank says: