Corruption Of Regional Head Election Grant Funds, Former Balikpapan KPU Officials Become Suspects

BALIKPAPAN - Secretary of the Balikpapan City General Election Commission (KPU) for the 2019 '2022 period with the initials SY was named a suspect in the alleged corruption case of Balikpapan City Government grant funds for the 2020 Regional Head Election.

"We have determined and detained the suspect in the alleged corruption case of the KPU," said Head of the Special Crimes Section of the Balikpapan City Prosecutor's Office, Dony Dwi Wijayanto, in Balikpapan, Antara, Tuesday, August 12.

This allegation of corruption is related to the management of grant funds from the Balikpapan City Government in 2019-2021, with a total allocation of around Rp53 billion. The funds were disbursed in two stages, namely Rp22 billion in 2019 and Rp31 billion in 2020.

Dony explained that the financial management of grants was carried out by the Balikpapan City KPU by appointing an activity implementing official, the power of budget user as well as a commitment-making official, as well as the treasurer of financial management.

The results of the investigation found that SY, who was then the Secretary of the KPU, as well as the power user of the budget and the official making the commitment, was suspected of deviating the management of the grant funds.

The Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) of East Kalimantan Province found indications of state financial losses of around Rp. 2.2 billion, especially related to the 2020 Pilkada activities.

The deviation is in the form of fictitious accountability, misuse of funds, and control of activities that do not comply with the provisions, as stated in the BPKP audit report.

Based on the findings and two sufficient pieces of evidence, the prosecutor's investigators raised the status of SY from witness to suspect and detained him from August 11 to the next 20 days for investigation purposes.

SY is suspected of violating Article 2 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2021 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption. The penalty is a minimum imprisonment of four years and a maximum of 20 years or life, as well as a fine of IDR 50 million to IDR 1 billion.

The investigating team of the Balikpapan City Prosecutor's Office has examined nearly 100 witnesses from internal KPU and external parties such as providers of goods and partners. It is possible that there will be other suspects if new evidence is found.

Currently, SY is retired and is no longer active in the KPU. "The process of investigating this alleged corruption case has been going on since 2024, and the Kejari is committed to completing its handling," said Dony.