Sulteng Prosecutor's Office Names Former Kades Tamainusi as Suspect in Corruption of Rp9.6 Billion Mine CSR Funds

PALU - Investigators of the Special Criminal Act (Pidsus) of the Central Sulawesi High Prosecutor's Office have named the former Head of Tamainusi Village, North Morowali Regency, Ahlis Umar as a suspect in the alleged corruption case of the management of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and compensation for mining companies.

"Investigators have also seized a number of financial transaction documents and several valuable assets suspected to be related to the case," said Head of the Information and Legal Section of the Sulteng Prosecutor's Office, Laode Sopyan, quoted by Antara, Friday, March 13.

The determination of the suspect was carried out on Thursday after investigators obtained at least two valid pieces of evidence, including the results of the examination of a number of witnesses from the village apparatus, Village Consultative Council (BPD), sub-district government, Village Empowerment and Village (PMD) Department, as well as the mining company.

Based on the results of the investigation, in the period 2021 to 2024, Tamainusi Village received CSR funds and compensation from a number of mining companies, including PT Hoffmen International, CV Surya Amindo Perkasa (SAP), PT Palu Barug Yaku and PT Cipta Hutama Meranti.

According to the provisions in the Minister of Home Affairs Regulation Number 20 of 2018, the funds should be deposited into the village cash account and recorded in the Village Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBDes).

"However, in practice, the suspect is suspected of committing a series of illegal acts to control the funds," he said.

Investigators revealed that the suspect issued a decision to establish a CSR fund management team unilaterally which was considered legally flawed, only two days before he was temporarily dismissed from his position as village head.

The suspect also opened a new account at the bank in the name of the CSR team and asked the mining company to transfer funds from the village's legal cash account to the account.

In its management, the suspect allegedly acted as a full controller by ordering the team treasurer to sign an empty withdrawal slip so that funds could be disbursed without a valid procedure.

In fact, the suspect is also suspected of receiving cash directly outside the banking mechanism, one of which is worth Rp732 million from CV Surya Amindo Perkasa.

As a result of this act, the state suffered financial losses of IDR 9,686,385,572 based on the results of the calculation of the Central Sulawesi Regional Prosecutor's Office auditor team.

During the investigation process, the investigation team also seized a number of assets suspected to be related to the case, including luxury vehicles of the Mitsubishi Pajero, Mercedes-Benz, and three heavy equipment units.

Investigators stated that the legal process for this case is still ongoing, including the possibility of developing the case and tracing other assets related to the alleged corruption crime.