Involved In Corruption Of Regional Head Election Grant Funds, 5 Commissioners Of KPU Aru Maluku Named As Suspects

The Maluku Police Chief and the Maluku KPU Chairman coordinated with the KPU Commissioner Aru Corruption Case. (ANTARA/HO-Polda Maluku)

AMBON - The Resort Police (Polres) of Aru Islands Regency has named five commissioners of the General Election Commission (KPU) Aru, Maluku, as suspects in the corruption of the 2020 Regent and Deputy Regent of the Aru Islands. They are MD, MAK, YL, TJP, KR, AR who serve as Chair and member and secretary of the KPU Aru Islands Regency. Maluku Police Chief Inspector General Lotharia Latif admitted that his party is currently aware that the general election, especially the legislature and vice presidents, is currently underway. But on the other hand, there is a legal process carried out by the National Police against the five commissioners of the KPU, Aru Islands Regency. "This legal process is not only being processed now but has been going on since 2020," said the Maluku Police Chief in Ambon, Antara, Monday, March 27. He explained that the process of investigating the case had been going on since 2020. In the same year, investigators raised the process to the investigation stage after it was found that there were allegations of criminal acts. "Then around June 2021, investigators asked for the calculation of state losses from the Indonesian financial auditory agency (BPK) and the results of the calculation of the state losses only came out in February 2023," he said. He said, after receiving the results of the calculation of state financial losses from the BPK RI, investigators then named the five commissioners as suspects. "The legal process will continue and it is impossible to stop, especially since this case has received attention from the KPK. The KPK has already stepped down to supervise this case," he said. In order not to hinder the next stages of the election, the Kapolda asked the Maluku KPU to anticipate and take strategic steps. "We hope that the Maluku KPU can coordinate with the Indonesian KPU, so that it can follow up on the problem," he asked. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Maluku KPU, Syamsul Rivan Kubangun, explained that the ongoing election stage process will be held. These include factual verification of the second stage of prospective candidates for members of the regional leadership council (DPD), preparation and determination of temporary voter data to DPSHP, and DPT. "Meanwhile, the submission of a list of temporary candidates and a list of candidates will continue from April to November 2023," he said. The entire process of holding the 2024 General Election, said Syamsul, is in the crucial stage in 2023. The stages that require the work of the Chairperson and Member of the KPU of the Aru Islands Regency who previously successfully held the 2019 Simultaneous Elections and the 2020 Simultaneous Regional Head Elections with the results are legitimized. With the appointment of the Chairperson and Member and Secretary of the KPU of the Aru Islands Regency as suspects, Syamsul admitted that he would have an impact and hinder the ongoing stage process due to his duties, obligations, regency KPU authorities including organizing, controlling, coordinating the implementation of the stages of holding elections in his working area. Where PPK and PPS have been formed. However, the Chairperson of the Maluku Province KPU admitted that from the start he respected the legal process and would not intervene related to the legal process being handled by the Aru Police while still adhering to the principles of the applicable legal principle. "However, we also hope that the Regional Police Chief together in synergy for the implementation of the simultaneous Election stages in the Maluku working area can run safely and conducively, the Provincial and Regency/City KPUs can serve election participants well. Likewise, the Maluku Regional Police and their staff can be involved in serving the community in the security and order process ahead of the 2024 Simultaneous Elections," he hoped. In accordance with applicable legal norms, namely Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections, members of the Regency KPU stop between time due to death, remain unable to carry out their duties, and obligations or be dishonorably dismissed. The Maluku Police Chief together with the Chairperson of the Provincial KPU are committed to continuing to oversee this legal process proactively synergize. The Provincial KPU will also coordinate, supervise, assist legal subjects attached to the positions of Chair and members of the KPU of the Aru Islands Regency.