Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) plans to auction several of the goods it has seized during the past six months on Wednesday at the Gelora Bung Karno sports center in Central Jakarta, the Commissions Director for Anti-Gratification Affairs Giri Supradiono announced on Tuesday.

"There are 78 items that will be auctioned. All profits will go into the state account," Giri stated.

Among the goods that will be auctioned on Wednesday are watches, bags, shirts, cell phones, shopping vouchers and paintings.

According to Giri, the goods that will be auctioned are not many because most corrupt officials used money as a tool of transaction. The anti-graft commission had seized a total of Rp2.5 billion (US$209,147) in cash in 2012, which was used for various purposes in the different cases being investigated.

Giri further stated that the auction would be used as part of the governments efforts to promote an anti-corruption spirit in the public.

Earlier on Monday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had observed the Anti-Corruption Day, saying that corruption was a real threat to development.

"Corruption is still happening in Indonesia. It is a real threat to the development of this nation," Yudhoyono noted.

The President explained that awareness among people was the first positive step towards eradicating corruption. He also urged law enforcement personnel to prevent and eliminate corruption in an aggressive manner.

Indonesias efforts to eradicate corruption from the country are progressing, according to the latest Corruption Perception Index released by Berlin-based NGO Transparency International.

The Corruption Perception Index 2013 was released on Tuesday last week and it placed Indonesia in the 114th position among the 177 countries being examined by the NGO. The latest ranking is a positive development, considering that Indonesia was ranked 118th last year.

According to Transparency International Indonesia, the Corruption Eradication Commission has successfully uncovered several corruption cases involving high ranking officials and parliament members in the last one year.

However, more challenges are expected as Indonesia plans to hold general elections next year. Transparency International highlighted the need for transparency in the use of campaign funds and evaluations of the track record of parliament members or candidates ahead of the election.

The NGO also recommended that the Indonesian people be more active in ensuring a more transparent and accountable election in 2014.

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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