Hospital Corruption, NTT Police Examine South Central Timor Regent

KUPANG - Investigators of Sub-Directorate III of Corruption Crimes at the Directorate of Criminal Investigation of the NTT Police examined the Regent of South Central Timor (TTS), Agusem Piether Year in connection with the handling of the alleged corruption case of the construction of the Boking Primary Hospital (RSP) in TTS Regency.

The Head of Public Relations of the NTT Police, Kombes Pol Ariasandy, when confirmed admitted that the Regent at TTS was summoned and examined in connection with the alleged corruption case of the Boking Hospital.

"Yes, it is true that he was summoned and has been examined," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 3.

The handling of alleged corruption in the construction of the Boking Primary Hospital (RSP) which was originally handled by the TTS Police was taken over by the Ditkrimsus Polda NTT since 2020.

The construction project of the Boking RSP was carried out in the 2017 fiscal year using a special allocation fund (DAK) budget and general allocation funds (DAU) amounting to Rp17.4 billion.

From the results of the investigation, it was known that from the value of the contract, the police found a state loss of Rp. 14.5 billion.

The former TTS Police Chief said that the TTS Regent was examined for several hours, after that he immediately went home.

However, Araisandy has not confirmed that the TTS Regent is being examined as a witness or suspect in the case.

"Still waiting for further information from the (investigator) of the Criminal Investigation Unit," he said.

This case was transferred to the status of an investigation after a case was held at the NTT Regional Police at the end of June 2020. The KPK has also supervised this case.

Deputy for Coordination and Supervision of the KPK Inspector General of Police Didik Agung Wijanarto some time ago said that the case of the Boking RSP had long been a concern of the KPK.

Allegations of corruption in the construction of the Boking Hospital in South Central Timor Regency began to be revealed after being inaugurated by the Regent of TTS, Epy Tahun in May 2019.

The Boking RSP project was carried out by PT Tangga Batu Jaya Abadi, which is a partner company from Java Island. The work on the Boking RSP was only completed at the end of 2018 and inaugurated by the Regent of South Central Timor, Egusem Piether, in May 2019.

After being inaugurated, investigators from the South Central Timor Police Criminal Investigation Unit immediately carried out an investigation after receiving reports of allegations of corruption in the construction of the hospital. At the time it was inaugurated, some of the hospital's buildings were already in a damaged condition.