Allegations of Corruption in COVID-19 Funds Rise Investigation, Ternate Prosecutor's Office Examines 4 BPBD Employees

Four BPPD employees of Ternate City after being questioned by prosecutors' investigators regarding the alleged corruption case of COVID-19 funds. (ANTARA)

TERNATE - The Special Criminal Investigation Team of the Ternate District Attorney, North Maluku, has again examined four employees of the local Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).

The four of them were examined as witnesses related to cases of alleged corruption in handling COVID-19 funds for the 2021 fiscal year.

"The summons of these witnesses was carried out after the case of alleged corruption in the 2021 COVID-19 budget of IDR 22 billion which is currently being increased to the investigation stage", said Head of the Ternate State Prosecutor Intelligence Section Aan Syaeful Anwar in Ternate, quoted from Antara, Thursday, September 22.

The four Ternate City BPBD employees who were examined by the Special Crimes of the State Prosecutor investigators were Iskandar Yusran Usman, Wirda Sibua, Irma Yunita Saleh, and Febriyanti M. Do Saleh.

"Today the Special Crimes of the State Prosecutor investigator team indeed examined four people from the Ternate BPDB and they were examined as witnesses in the case of alleged corruption in the COVID-19 budget", he said.

One of the Ternate BPBD employees, Febriyanti, who was confirmed after being questioned by investigators, said that he had come to the Ternate State Prosecutor's Office to provide information related to the alleged corruption case of the COVID-19 budget.

"Indeed, we were asked about the management of COVID-19 funds only, if the number of questions asked, sorry, I don't remember anymore", she said.

Febriyanti explained that she came to the State Prosecutor's office in the capacity of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction staff of the Ternate City BPDB.

"This is the first call for us. What is clear, if our information is still needed, of course, we as good citizens will definitely come", she added.

Meanwhile, the North Maluku High Prosecutor's Office reminded Ternate District Attorney investigators to seriously investigate the funds for the alleged criminal act of corruption in the budget for handling COVID-19 in 2021 amounting to IDR 22 billion.

The Assistant for Special Crimes at the North Maluku Prosecutor's Office, M. Irwan Datuiding, said his party fully supports the steps taken by the Ternate State Prosecutor to investigate cases of alleged misuse of the COVID-19 budget.

"We will also provide assistance if needed during the handling of the case", said Irwan while also reminding the prosecutor who handled the case not to play around.