KPK: Returning Losses Is More Efficient Than Imprisoning The Village Head

Deputy Chairman of KPK Alexander Marwata/FOTO VIA ANTARA

BANTUL - Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Alexander Marwata, assessed that efforts to return financial losses to the village treasury were considered more effective and efficient than imprisoning village heads who were involved in budget irregularities.

"I think that what needs to be considered in the future, including taking action against the village head, is that if a village head is proven to have taken money, but the value is not much, if it is processed in court, the costs are higher, in the end, it will be ineffective and inefficient", he said on the sidelines of the village launch. Anti-corruption in Panggungharjo Village, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, December 1.

According to him, convicting or imprisoning village heads who are involved in corruption through a lengthy court process will require large amounts of state money, even more than what the state gets from disclosing cases of financial irregularities.

"Yes, tell the village head to return it, if there is a provision to fire the village head, the problem is solved. If there are no provisions, how will the rules be made, maybe through village meetings with the community, they are the ones who choose", he said.

He said the corruption eradication effort did not only end in court, or the success of the corruption eradication effort by the size of how many people were imprisoned.

"We agree that when it comes to state financial losses, regional finances, and village losses, how much money can be returned to the village treasury, regional treasury, and state treasury, I think it is more effective than imprisoning people", he said.

Alexander said that returning village or regional financial losses and dismissing corrupt officials and village heads would certainly deter other officials and village heads.

"Especially having a wife who doesn't work, three children, all of them disbanded. Maybe things like that can be contemplation, our introspection together, and eradicating corruption remains an effort for all of us, so our 'task together", he said.