Aceh Prosecutor's Office Stops Investigation Of Rp45.5 Billion Corruption Cases, Here's The Reason

Documentation - The Aceh Prosecutor's Office team confiscates a ship in the procurement of floating net cages in Sabang, Aceh. ANTARA/M Haris SA

ACEH - Investigators from the Aceh High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) have stopped investigating cases of alleged corruption in the procurement of floating net cages with a work contract value of IDR 45.5 billion.

Assistant for Special Crimes at the Aceh Attorney General's Office, R Raharjo Yusuf Wibisono in Banda Aceh, Tuesday, January 4, said that investigators were discontinued at the direction of the Junior Prosecutors for Special Crimes (Jampidsus).

"Some time ago, investigators exposed the case to Jampidsus. As a result, the Jampidsus team gave instructions so that the handling of the case was stopped," said R Raharjo Yusuf Wibisono as quoted by Antara.

Accompanied by the Head of the Aceh Attorney General's Office Muhammad Yusuf, R Raharjo Yusuf said the reason for the termination of the investigation was because the procurement company PT Perikanan Nusantara was a state-owned enterprise (BUMN).

"It means that in this case the state is against the state, so there is no state loss. In this case, the error is only administrative and the error has been taken over by the Ministry of SOEs," said R Raharjo Yusuf Wibisono.

Regarding the suspect, said R Raharjo Yusuf Wibisono, he automatically died. Likewise, Rp36 billion, which was previously confiscated as evidence, was returned to the company which has now changed its name to PT Perikanan Indonesia.

"Meanwhile, the floating net cages that were previously confiscated in Pulau Weh, Sabang City, have been brought to Lampung, to be used by fishermen in the province. Because the floating net cages cannot be used in Sabang, because the waters are not suitable," said R Raharjo Yusuf Wibisono .

The Aceh Attorney General's Office has investigated allegations of corruption in the procurement of floating net cages managed by the Directorate General of Aquaculture, Directorate of Fish Feed and Medicine, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, RI since 2018.

The project was implemented in 2017 with a budget of IDR 50 billion. The procurement project was won by PT Perikanan Nusantara with a contract value of Rp45.58 billion.

The findings of the Aceh High Prosecutor's Office investigators indicated that the work was not carried out according to specifications. The company also can't get the job done 100 percent. The work was completed in January 2018, while the disbursement was paid on 29 December 2017.

In addition, there is also an indication of overpayment. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries pays 89 percent of the supposed 75 percent of jobs. The total paid Rp40.8 billion more than the contract value of Rp45.58 billion.

In this case, the Aceh Prosecutor's Office investigator team confiscated eight floating cages and their nets, one unit of fish feed barge. Then, one package of feed distribution system, and feed pipe.

Also, a set of surveillance camera systems, a ship unit and its equipment. All of the confiscated items were located in several places on Pulau Weh, Sabang City.

In addition to seizing assets, the investigative team also confiscated Rp36.2 billion in cash. The money was handed over directly in cash by PT Perikanan Nusantara to the Aceh High Court.