Seven People, Including The Village Head In Garut, Questioned By The Police Regarding The Case Of Diversion Of Food BLT Funds

Head of the Garut Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Commissioner Adjutant Dede Sopandi. (ANTARA/Purnama Ferry)

GARUT - The Garut Resort Police, West Java, examined seven witnesses in an investigation into the case of the transfer of direct cash assistance (BLT) for food that should have been given cash instead of rice in Sarimukti Village, Pasirwangi District.

"We have examined seven people as witnesses in the case of transferring BLT funds in Sarimukti Village," said Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Garut Police Commissioner Adjutant Dede Sopandi to reporters in Garut, as reported by Antara, Wednesday, April 20.

He said the Garut Police had received information on the transfer of cash assistance from the central government for the community in Sarimukti Village, Pasirwangi District.

The information, he said, was related to the diversion of money for cooking oil BLT in the amount of IDR 300 thousand and food assistance of IDR 200 thousand per KPM, but in the field only IDR 300 thousand per KPM was given.

The remaining IDR 200 thousand, he said, was given to KPM by the village in the form of rice weighing 17.5 kilograms or the equivalent of IDR 200 thousand in cash.

"So the money that should have been given IDR 500 thousand, was only given IDR 300 thousand and 17.5 kilos of rice or IDR 200 thousand," he said.

Other witnesses examined, he said, were the village head, representatives from non-cash food aid agents, and the Post Office officer who distributed the funds.

"The results of the inspection were 701 KPM, who received rice and 360 cash (KPM) the remaining 341 KPM received a full IDR 500 thousand," he said.

He said the case was still being investigated further and the Garut Police were coordinating with the Garut District Attorney's Office in handling the case of the transfer of BLT funds.

"The Garut Police are still investigating the case, whether it is true that the rice given is worth IDR 200 thousand or not, there will be an expert," he said.