Former Head Of Aceh Tamiang Office Becomes Suspect Of Land Procurement Corruption

BANDA ACEH - The Aceh High Prosecutor's Office has named the former head of the Industry, Trade and Cooperatives Office of Aceh Tamiang Regency as a suspect in the alleged corruption of land acquisition amounting to IDR 2.5 billion.

Acting (Plt) Head of the Legal Information Section of the Aceh Prosecutor's Office, Ali Rasab Lubis, said the suspect had the initials AH. The determination of the suspect after initial evidence is found of the alleged criminal act of corruption.

In addition to AH, the Aceh Attorney General's Office investigators determined the landowner with the initials SI. The land acquisition that was found to be problematic was for the construction of a traditional market in Aceh Tamiang Regency in the 2014 budget year.

According to Ali, the Aceh Tamiang District Government allocated a budget of IDR 2.5 billion in 2014. The budget is for land acquisition for the construction of a traditional market in the Vocational Youth District.

Based on the results of the inspection, he explained, the determination of SI's land area of 10 thousand square meters did not use the applicable rules. The Department of Industry, Trade, and Cooperatives of Aceh Tamiang Regency headed by AH determined the location of the land for direct appointment.

"The land price is determined by negotiation with the landowner. The price for land compensation is set at IDR 249 thousand per meter, bringing the total to IDR 2.49 billion", said Ali, quoted by Antara, Friday, May 20.

In fact, he said, SI bought the land for IDR 14 thousand per meter in 2013 or a year before the land acquisition for the construction of the traditional market took place.

Ali said that based on calculations by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) of Aceh Province, it was found that the state lost IDR 1.595 billion

The two suspects are suspected of violating Article 2 Paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 18 Paragraph (1) letters a, b Paragraph (2) and (3) of Law Number 31 of 1999 which was changed to Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.

"The penalty is a maximum imprisonment of life", he said.