Corruption In The Farmers Group Assistance Program In Central Kalimantan, 2 Suspects Of The Katingan Regency Government Agriculture Service

Katingan Police showed cash in the case of alleged corruption in the PSR program in Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan, Tuesday, August 8, 2023. (ANTARA-Humas Polda Central Kalimantan)

The Katingan Police have uncovered a case of alleged corruption in financial assistance to farmer groups in the people's palm oil rejuvenation program (PSR) in Mendawai District, Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan (Kalteng).

From the disclosure of the case, investigators named two suspects with the initials YA and YO as the Head of the Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Service of Katingan Regency for the 2019-2022 period.

The Head of Public Relations of the Central Kalimantan Police, Kombes Pol. Erlan Munaji, said that the suspect YA played a role in signing the Recommendation Letter for the Rejuvenation of Palm Oil Funds from the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) at the Directorate General of Treasury of the Ministry of Finance for the 2020-2021 fiscal year for five farmer groups in Mendawai District, Katingan.

"Even though the five groups do not deserve assistance," he said during a press conference at the Katingan Police, Tuesday, August 8, which was confiscated by Antara.

Erlan said that the five farmer groups did not deserve the assistance of the 2020-2021 PSR FY funds because they did not meet the required criteria. However, the five farmer groups received more than Rp27.5 billion in funds.

"They are both working together in terms of disbursing more than Rp27 billion in aid, YA proposed five names of farmer groups and YO made fictitious documents for recommendation letters that the five farmer groups deserved assistance," he said.

Based on the audit report (LHA), the state's financial losses from the alleged corruption reached more than Rp. 10.7 billion.

From the disclosure of this case, Erlan said that the evidence confiscated by the Katingan Police from several witnesses for the procurement of seeds and so on was in the form of cash worth more than Rp. 17 billion.

In addition, two laptops, computers, and files were also confiscated which were allegedly fictitious recommendations made by YO.

To account for his actions, the suspects YA and YO were detained at the Katingan Police Headquarters Detention Center for investigation purposes.

Both are suspected of Article 2 paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 Jo of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.