Bandung Zoo Convoluted With Dispute Closed, West Java Prosecutor's Office: Management To Related Stakeholders

The West Java High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) confirmed that it does not have the authority to manage the Bandung Zoo or Bandung Zoo which is still closed due to management disputes.

Head of West Java Prosecutor's Office, Sri Nurcahyawijaya, said that the problem of managing the zoo was completely handed over to the Bandung City Government.

"Regarding the zoo, we from the investigators are not directly related. We leave the management to the relevant stakeholders," said Cahya in Bandung, Friday, as reported by Antara.

Cahya said that some of Bandung Zoo's assets had indeed been confiscated as evidence in the case with the defendants Bisma Bratakoesoema and Sri Devi.

In addition to the two defendants, the prosecutor's office has also named another suspect, the former Regional Secretary of Bandung City, Yossi Irianto.

He added that his party only handled the legal process related to the alleged corruption in the rental of the zoo land.

"We continue to carry out legal procedures against the two defendants and one suspect. For the opening of the zoo, it is not our authority," he said.

Cahya explained that not all Bandung Zoo assets were used as evidence. The confiscated assets according to the procedure were then entrusted to the Bandung City Government.

"Regarding the assets that were chaotic yesterday, not all of them are evidence. Some were confiscated, and according to procedures were entrusted to the city government," he said.

He emphasized that communication with the Bandung City Government continues, but the West Java Prosecutor's Office remains in the corridor of law enforcement.

Previously, two high-ranking officials from the Tamansari Bandung Wildlife Foundation, Raden Bisma Bratakoesoema and Sri Devi, were suspected of abusing nearly 140 thousand square meters of land on Tamansari Street.

The land, which has the status of Regional Property (BMD), has been leased since 2005, but the lease agreement expires on November 30, 2007.

Even though the agreement has ended, the foundation still manages the zoo without paying rent to the regional treasury. From 2017 to 2020, the defendant allegedly received rental money of up to IDR 6 billion which was used for personal gain.