Former Head Of Cikupa Village Becomes Suspect Of PTSL Extortion, Free Government Program For The Community

Four suspects for extortion from the PTSL program/ Photo: IST

TANGERANG - The Tangerang Police have named four suspects in the alleged criminal case of illegal levies (extortion) for the Complete Systematic Land Registration (PTSL) program in Cikupa Village, Tangerang Regency in 2020-2021 which earned a profit of up to Rp. 2 billion.

Tangerang Police Chief, Kombes Pol Raden Romdhon Natakusuma said, of the four suspects arrested, one of them was a former village head (Kades) 2020-2021 Cikupa, Tangerang Regency, AM.

He added that the four suspects asked for a number of fees from PTSL applicants in their area. The three other suspects with the initials SH as Cikupa Village Secretary for 2020-2021.

MI as Head of Planning for 2020-2021 and MSE as Head of Finance for 2020-2022.

"The requested fees varied in value from Rp. 500 thousand to Rp. 1.5 million. These victims amounted to 1,316 people, with a total loss of approximately Rp. 2 billion," Raden told reporters at the Tangerang Police, Tuesday, July 5.

Raden explained that the role of the former village head was to regulate the PTSL program which was misused for personal gain.

As is known, the PTSL program provided by the Central Government is free of charge.

"The suspect AM played a role in leading the three suspects together to socialize the levy to the applicant for personal use," he said.

On that occasion, Raden said that the proceeds of the crime were used to nominate the Village Head in 2021.

"AM as the incumbent is also suspected of using the money from the extortion when he ran for the village last year," he said.

In this case, continued Romdhon, his party secured several pieces of evidence in the form of Rp 100,150,000 in cash, several receipts for using the collected money and several documents.

"We have also secured some cash and other supporting evidence from these suspects," he said.

To account for their actions, the four suspects are subject to Article 12 Letter E concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption.

"The threat of a minimum sentence of 4 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison," he concluded.