West Sumatra Prosecutor's Office Examines 6 Officials For Toll Land Compensation Cases

PADANG - The Prosecutor's Office of West Sumatra examined six officials in Padangpariaman Regency in investigating cases of irregularities in land compensation for the construction of the Padang-Sicincin toll road, which is a national strategic project.

"Today, we have examined six officials in cases of alleged irregularities in compensation for toll land", said Head of the West Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office, Anwarudin Sulistiyono, in Padang, quoted by Antara, Monday, June 28.

Anwarudin said the six officials were related to the land compensation process, but the Attorney General's Office was unable to identify the witnesses.

The witnesses were examined for questioning at the West Sumatra Prosecutor's Office, Raden Saleh Street, Padang City.

Anwarudin explained that the investigation into the case would continue and would ask for information from other related parties.

The investigation has been carried out by the West Sumatra Attorney General's Office since June 22, 2021, starting with the investigation and intelligence operations of the Padangpariaman District Attorney's Office.

However, the Attorney General's Office has not named a suspect yet.

"If the investigation finds two valid pieces of evidence, a suspect will be determined", he said.

The case of irregularities in compensation for toll land occurred on land located in the conservation area of Parit Malintang District, Padangpariaman Regency.

Where for the state toll road project to pay compensation for the land used for development.

However, in the Parit Malintang conservation area, indications were found that the compensation received was not the rightful recipient with a value of up to IDR 30 billion.

Because it is known that the land is registered as an asset belonging to the regional government, but compensation is received by each person.

Prosecutor's Office emphasized that the current investigation is purely on the payment of land compensation, not the physical construction of the toll road project.

So that it will not have an impact on the construction of the toll road project, let alone hamper the work.

"This processing is part of the prosecutor's efforts to support the toll road project as a national strategic project, lest there be irresponsible parties who take personal benefits and harm state finances", he said.