Fugitive Embezzlement Of Rp403 Million Palm Oil Company Money In Muba Arrested

MUSI BANYUASIN - Police Resort (Polres) Musi Banyuasin (Muba), South Sumatra, arrested a fugitive suspect AJ in connection with the alleged embezzlement of money from oil palm plantation companies which reached around Rp403 million.

Musi Banyuasin Police Chief AKBP Siswandi said the local Police Criminal Investigation Unit team arrested suspect AJ during a hunting operation to his hiding place in Grobogan Regency, East Java.

"It was found there Wednesday (17/5) in pursuit, and on Monday (22/5) the person concerned has been detained at the Muba Police Headquarters for further investigation," said the Police Chief, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, May 22.

He explained that the suspect AJ was on the wanted list (DPO) in police hunting since three months ago or in early February 2023.

At that time, he said, the oil palm plantation company PT BKI reported AJ to the Musi Banyuasin Police for allegedly embezzling a total of Rp402.8 million in complete evidence.

Siswandi said the money was given to AJ as the company's workforce for oil palm plantation maintenance activities in Karang Agung Village, Lalan District, Musi Banyuasin Regency.

The money taken by the suspect was for the activity of pruning the oil palm or progressive logging tree. But apparently, he ran away and the activity was not carried out at all by him," he said.

Meanwhile, the suspect AJ told local police investigators that the company's money was taken away and used up to play gambling slots.

For his actions, the suspect AJ was charged with violating Article 374 of the Criminal Code regarding embezzlement in office and or Article 372 of the Criminal Code concerning embezzlement with the threat of imprisonment for five years.