The Case Of Procurement Of 'Thin' Aceh Cows Of Rp. 3.4 Billion From Bekasi Rises To Investigation

Head of Public Relations of the Aceh Regional Police, Kombes Winardy (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Investigators at the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Aceh Police have raised the investigation of the alleged corruption in the procurement of cattle at the Aceh Livestock Service Office of Rp3.4 billion to the investigation stage.

Head of the Aceh Regional Police Public Relations Division, Kombes Winardy, said the increase in case handling to the investigation stage was after investigators had completed the results of the investigation.

"With the upgrade of the case handling status to investigation, there will be suspects. However, investigators have not yet named a suspect. Investigators are currently gathering information and evidence," said Kombes Winardy as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 19.

Winardy said the procurement at the Aceh Animal and Livestock Health Service was budgeted for in 2017. The total budget is more than Rp3.4 billion.

Accompanied by the Head of the Sub-Directorate for Corruption in the Aceh Regional Police Special Crime Investigation Directorate AKBP Faisal Rahmat, Kombes Winardy said investigators had examined 28 witnesses in the case.

"Currently, the investigation process of the related parties is ongoing and the collection of evidence. If the investigator finds two pieces of evidence, a case title will be held to determine the suspect," he said.

Regarding the state's losses, the middle-ranking Police officer said that he was in the process of calculating the auditors of the Development Finance Supervisory Agency (BPKP).

The case for procuring cows at the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) of the Aceh Animal Husbandry Service came to the public in June 2020. At that time, hundreds of cows from the procurement were found to be thin. In fact, the budget for hundreds of cows in the UPTD reaches billions of rupiah.

Previously, the Director of Special Criminal Investigation for the Aceh Regional Police, Kombes Margiyanta, said that investigators had examined and asked for information from related parties, including procurement partners, service providers, procurement committees, and others.

The middle-ranking police officer said that the investigation of the case was not only in Aceh, but also in a number of places on the island of Java, where the cattle were brought in.

"Investigators are also in Bekasi, asking for information from suppliers and animal health officials. This is because the cows were imported from Bekasi," said Margiyanta.

Apart from Bekasi, the investigation team from the Aceh Police Special Criminal Investigation Directorate has also moved to Banyuwangi, East Java, to trace the origin of the skinny cow.

"The investigating team to Banyuwangi dig up information by asking a number of parties related to the procurement of the cattle. We confirm that the investigation of this case continues," said Margiyanta.