Aceh Prosecutor's Office Examines 10 Witnesses In Scholarship Corruption Cases Of IDR 420.5 Billion

The Aceh High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) stated that investigators have examined as many as 10 witnesses in the alleged corruption case of scholarships from the Aceh Government at the BPSDM Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) Aceh Province worth more than Rp420.5 billion.

Head of the Legal Information and Public Relations Section of the Aceh Attorney General's Office, Ali Rasab Lubis, said that the examination of the witnesses was in order to collect information to complete the case file.

"The witnesses who were examined and asked for information are related parties in the distribution of scholarships. So far, dozens of witnesses have been examined. The number of witnesses will increase because the investigation process is still ongoing," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, November 17.

He said the statements of the witnesses could later serve as a guide for investigators to obtain evidence and identify parties who should be responsible for being named suspects in the distribution of the scholarship.

"Investigators continue to work to find and collect preliminary evidence to determine who is the suspect. Apart from witnesses, investigators are also examining documents related to the distribution of the scholarship," said Ali Rasab Lubis.

Previously, Aceh Attorney General's Office investigators increased the handling of alleged corruption in scholarships managed by the Aceh Province BPSDM with a total budget of more than IDR 420.5 billion from investigation to investigation.

"Investigations to uncover allegations of irregularities in the management of Aceh Government scholarships for the 2021 to 2024 fiscal year with a total budget of more than IDR 420.5 billion," he said.

Ali Rasab Lubis said that the Aceh Province BPSDM will manage scholarship funds in 2021 as much as Rp153.85 billion. In 2022 it will be Rp141 billion, in 2023 it will reach Rp64.55 billion, and in 2024 it will be Rp61.12 billion.

Based on the financial accountability document at the Aceh Province BPSDM from 2021 to 2024, it is suspected that there are irregularities from the applicable provisions in distribution that have the potential to harm state finances.

He said the implications of criminal acts of scholarship corruption were not only seen from the amount of state losses, but the impact was much greater. As a result of corruption, it undermines human resource development and destroys the future of the younger generation and hinders the progress of the nation.

"We invite the public to continue to support the efforts of the Aceh Prosecutor's Office in thoroughly investigating corruption in Aceh Province," said Ali Rasab Lubis.