West Java Police Still Investigating Alleged Corruption In Retribution At Cibodas Botanical Gardens Tour 2021-2024

The West Java Regional Police stated that they were conducting an investigation regarding the alleged corruption in the collection of levies at the Cibodas Botanical Garden tourist attraction, Cianjur Regency for the 2021 to 2024 fiscal year.

"It's still an investigation," said Head of Public Relations of the West Java Police Kombes Jules Abraham Abast in Bandung, Antara, Friday, February 28.

Regarding officials in the Cianjur Regency Government who have been questioned, Jules does not want to talk in more detail.

"This is still an investigation," he said.

Previously, the former Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism (Kadisbudpar) of Cianjur Regency, West Java, Pratama Nugraha Emmawan, confirmed that the West Java Regional Police had investigated the alleged corruption case in the distribution of the Cibodas tourist area.

"That's right, I have come to the West Java Regional Police but only talked about data on the management of the Cibodas tourist area, including discussing the arrears of third parties who are included in state receivables, not being questioned just chatting," he said in Cianjur.

Pratama, who currently serves as Secretary of the Cianjur DPRD, said that he had visited the West Java Regional Police on Monday, February 10 and confirmed that he had provided the requested information.

"Once again, I only talked about the data and information needed by investigators at the West Java Regional Police regarding the management of the Cibodas tourist area, including discussing the management carried out by third parties," he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Center for Public Policy Studies, Cianjur Research Center (CRC), Anton Ramadhan, said that his party received information regarding the investigation carried out by the West Java Police against two former heads of the Pratama and Yudi Pratidi offices which was carried out on Monday, February 10.

In fact, in addition to having information about the examination, his party has data on a number of irregularities related to the withdrawal of levies in the Cibodas tourist area involving third parties or PT Baradhuta Jaya Sakti (BJS) which is detrimental to billions of rupiah.

"We received information from the West Java Regional Police after examining the Head of Disbudpar Cianjur, followed by the summons of two former service heads, Pratama and Yudi, we also have data related to the alleged corruption in the withdrawal of the levies," he said.

There are several irregularities in the withdrawal of levies in the Cibodas tourist area, including a third party who has not fully fulfilled the obligation to pay the contribution according to the agreement agreed with the Cianjur Disbudpar in 2022-2023 amounting to IDR 3.5 billion.

"During the management in 2022-2023, PT BJS did not make deposits according to the agreement, so there were arrears of up to IDR 3.5 billion, while calculated from the number of visits every year it should be able to pay off," he said.