The IDR 49 Billion Project Ends In Cancellation, What's Behind The Smart Class NTB?

NTB Prosecutor's Office Photo Archives. BETWEEN/Dhimas B.P.

The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) High Prosecutor's Office stated that the handling of cases of alleged corruption in the procurement of Smart Class projects at the NTB Province Education and Culture Office (Dikbud) is still ongoing at the investigation stage.

Spokesperson for the NTB Prosecutor's Office, Efrien Saputera, in Mataram, Thursday, said that his party was investigating indications of unlawful acts (PMH).

"If PMH is found and has the potential to harm state finances, a case will definitely be held to increase the status of case handling," said Efrien in Mataram, Antara, Thursday, August 14.

So far, the prosecutor's office has examined at least 15 witnesses from elements of the NTB Dikbud Service and partners. However, Efrien has not been able to reveal the names of the parties being examined.

In this case, a civil lawsuit was also filed by PT Karya Pendidikan Bangsa (KPB) at the Mataram District Court. The company, which is one of the provider's partners, demanded that the NTB Education and Culture pay compensation of Rp9.8 billion on suspicion of default.

Efrien emphasized that the civil lawsuit did not affect the investigation process carried out by the NTB Prosecutor's Office.

"The issue of the civil lawsuit has nothing to do with our investigation," he said.

Based on data from the NTB Provincial Government's Electronic Procurement Service (LPSE), the Smart Class project was recorded in the auction list for the 2024 fiscal year which was divided into three packages. However, after the announcement of the winner of the auction, the three work packages disappeared from the LPSE website.

Three companies were listed as winners, namely PT Anugerah Bintang Meditama (ABM) with a package value of Rp. 14.7 billion, PT Anugrah Pratama (AP) worth Rp. 24.9 billion, and PT KPB worth Rp. 9.8 billion.

The information gathered stated that all the companies that won the auction had sent goods, even the results of the work had been signed by the recipient from the NTB Dikbud Service. However, the project was later canceled, resulting in the implementing party losing money because the goods had been purchased and sent.

In addition, it is suspected that this project was carried out before the auction process was completed due to the submission of project fees to regional officials.