Allegations Of Corruption In The Clean Water Project Of PT AMGM, West Lombok Regent Examined By The Prosecutor's Office

West Lombok Regent Fauzan Khalidn (ANTARA)

West Lombok Regent Fauzan Khalid has fulfilled the summons of special criminal investigators from the West Nusa Tenggara High Prosecutor's Office regarding the alleged corruption case in a number of physical projects and the withdrawal of PT Air Mineral Giri Win (AMGM) levies.

After giving information to the prosecutor's investigator at the NTB Prosecutor's Office Building, Mataram, Fauzan Khalid expressed his appreciation to the public who had reported the alleged corruption case to PT AMGM.

"So, we need to appreciate this report, meaning that I see this as a form of public concern for the progress of companies in the regions," Fauzan said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, June 26.

In the activity of requesting information, Fauzan admitted that the prosecutor's investigators asked him for more explanation regarding the duties and authorities of the West Lombok Regency Government (Pemkab) as a shareholder in PT AMGM.

"There are more of them, and I have explained it," he said.

In addition, Fauzan conveyed the local government's view of the performance of PT AMGM. According to him, PT AMGM as a regional company has carried out its duties well.

"I convey that PT AMGM is a healthy company, there are always dividends. Dividends in 2022 alone PT AMGM deposits Rp9 billion to us," he said.

Even though there is dividends every year, he said, the local government still disburses capital participation funds to PT AMGM. "I also explain that, there is a regional regulation in 2019 with one of its contents," he said.

In the initial agreement between the West Lombok Regency Government and PT AMGM, it has also regulated the existence of the capital participation.

"This (capital participation) is also based on an initial agreement that is included in the regional regulation. PT AMGM's assets are worth Rp800 billion, the composition of shares of the West Lombok Regency Government is 60 percent, around Rp400 billion," said Fauzan.

The Regent stated that the share value of the West Lombok Regency Government in PT AMGM is currently around Rp130 billion from Rp400 billion.

Due to a shortage, Fauzan said that the West Lombok Regency Government continues to encourage PT AMGM to recover the value of the shares by continuing to disburse capital participation funds per year.

"This is a commitment every year to be completed so that it can catch up to 60 percent. So, there is always (capital participation) every year, except during the COVID-19 pandemic, that's 2 years of not running the regional regulation," he said.

He did not deny that the capital participation funds from the West Lombok Regency Government for PT AMGM flowed a lot to a number of work projects to develop community service needs.

"It's like building new wells, canals, etc.," he said.

Regarding the withdrawal of waste levies to PT AMGM customers, Fauzan admitted that this came from the request of the local government as a shareholder.

"So, it was the waste retribution that asked the local government for help from PT AMGM. The deposit still goes to the regional government. Even if it is proven that PT AMGM has taken, there is no need to check, just arrest it immediately. However, this is not the case, the deposit still goes to us," he said.

Fauzan Khalid attended the prosecutor's invitation at 10.00 WITA. The request for information ended at around 12.30 WITA.

The examination relates to public reports that suspect a criminal act of corruption at PT AMGM under the leadership of Lalu Ahmad Zaini.

"Yes, the West Lombok Regent was investigated regarding the alleged corruption case at PT AMGM which came from the public report," said NTB Attorney General Efrien Saputera.

This case originated from a public report related to a project that used the 2019 2020 budget.

According to reports, the work is related to the installation of a concrete panel fence at the Sembung Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and the procurement of wells at 10 location points.

In addition, there are also allegations of corruption in the construction project of the production equipment building, salt building, reading section room, building, and interior completeness of the PT AMGM Branch Office in the Narmada area, West Lombok Regency.

According to the reporter, there was a volume shortage in a number of project work items in 2019-2020 with a value of at least IDR 1 billion.

In addition, the complainant suspects that there has been misappropriation of the budget and abuse of positions related to the collection of waste retribution payments. According to the reporter, the collection of waste levies has been included in one account of PT AMGM's customer bill.