NTB Prosecutor's Office Examines Bank Employees Related To KUR Fund Corruption Cases

An employee of a conventional bank in NTB after undergoing an examination as a witness to a case of alleged corruption in the distribution of KUR funds to farming communities in East Lombok and Central Lombok / ANTARA

MATARAM - The Special Criminal Team of the West Nusa Tenggara High Prosecutor's Office investigated a number of employees of a conventional bank related to allegations of corruption in distributing people's business credit (KUR) funds to farming communities in Central Lombok and East Lombok.

Spokesperson for the Prosecutor's Office for NTB Efien Saputra confirmed the activities of special criminal investigators related to the examination of the conventional bank.

"Yes, his examination as a witness will take place starting Wednesday (29/6) and today. It is most likely related to the submission of files to investigators," Efien said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, June 30.

The conventional bank employee came by using a four-wheeled vehicle. Seen at least five people out of the vehicle, then went straight to the Prosecutor's Office NTB.

At around 13.00 WITA, they were seen busy going in and out in turns. Some of them were seen carrying files. Such activity was monitored until 16.00 WITA.

When met by reporters and asked for information about these activities, none of them made any comments. They chose silence and rushed into the vehicle leaving the NTB Prosecutor's Office building.

During the investigation of this case, the prosecutor's office has not yet identified a suspect. This case still revolves around a series of witness examinations and the collection of evidence.

This case was previously under the control of the East Lombok District Attorney. The NTB Prosecutor's Office will take over the handling of this case in 2021.

According to information, the director general of one of the ministries made a visit to East Lombok Regency in August 2020.

During his visit, the state official met with farmers and provided information about the existence of the KUR assistance program through banking facilities.

From this information, collected 622 farmers from five villages in the southern part of East Lombok who received proposals to enter as recipients of KUR funds.

Those who accepted the proposal came from among corn farmers. Each farmer is promised a cash loan of Rp. 15 million for the area of land per hectare.

Of the 662 farmers, the total land area included in the funding reached 1,582 hectares.

Continued among tobacco farmers. It was recorded that there were 460 people who were collected in the data on proposals for aid recipients. In his promise, each farmer gets funds from KUR in the amount of Rp. 30 million to Rp. 50 million.

With such data collection, the farmers who are registered in the proposed data for KUR recipients are required to undergo a loan administration process. A number of signed files.

In this process, the role of a third party, namely CV ABB and HKTI NTB were involved. They act as government partners in collecting data on farmers and managing KUR funds.

For the administrative purposes of corn farmers, they apply for KUR funds with BNI Mataram Branch. Meanwhile, tobacco farmers through BNI Praya Branch.

Regarding the existence of CV ABB as a third party, there is a strong suspicion that it received a direct appointment from the ministry. Likewise with the involvement of HKTI NTB.

Problems in this case also emerged when a number of farmers applied for loans to BRI. The application could not be processed because of the ongoing problem of KUR arrears at BNI.

Their arrears also varied, ranging from Rp. 15 million to Rp. 45 million. The value depends on the ownership of the land area. However, until now it was revealed that the farmers claimed to have never received the credit funds.