Police Examine Dozens Of Witnesses In Corruption Cases SLB Study Facility In Padang

Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Padang Police, Commissioner Dedy Adriansyah Putra. ANTARA/FathulAbdi

PADANG - The Padang City Police, West Sumatra (West Sumatra) has examined 21 witnesses to investigate the alleged corruption case in the procurement of learning facilities designated for more than fifty Special Schools (SLB).

"In the ongoing investigation process, we have examined 21 witnesses from various backgrounds to explore the case," said Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Padang Police, Kompol Dedy Adriansyah Putra, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 23.

The witnesses were summoned for questioning regarding the procurement of facilities and infrastructure for more than fifty special schools that were suspected of having problems.

Dozens of witnesses are known to come from the background of the school, the provincial education office, procurement partners, and others.

Dedy said that his party continues to collect information and evidence needed to ensnare the guilty parties in the case, and complete the investigation.

He revealed that the investigative team had also requested an audit from the Indonesian Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) to calculate the exact amount of state financial losses resulting from the case.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Tipidkor Polresta Padang Ipda Nofiendri revealed that the case was related to the procurement of learning facilities for fifty special schools in West Sumatra.

The budget comes from the 2019 Special Allocation Fund (DAK) with an amount of Rp. 4.5 billion, for around 150 items of learning facilities.

"Based on preliminary calculations from investigators, the state loss in this case reached Rp. 1 billion. The exact amount is waiting for the results of an audit from an official institution," he explained.

State losses arise because the goods procured are not in accordance with the contract, specifications, and there is an alleged mark-up of the goods.

The Padang Police has conducted case investigations since early 2022, starting with community reports, then being raised to the investigation level on July 15.

Kompol Dedy Adriansyah Putra confirmed that his party would thoroughly investigate the case because it was related to the education budget.