The Minister Of Home Affairs Reactivates The Position Of Mimika Regent Eltinus Omaleng Who Is Sentenced To Be Free Of Church Corruption Cases

Acting Governor of Central Papua Ribka Haluk when handing over the position of Mimika regent from Acting Regent Valentinus Sudarjanto Sumito to the inactive Regent Eltinus Omaleng/ANTARA/Personal Documentation)

TIMIKA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian has reactivated Eltinus Omaleng, who was disabled because he was caught in a corruption case in the construction of Kingmi Mile 32 Church, as regent of Mimika, Central Papua.

The reactivation of the regent's position was carried out based on the Decree (SK) of the Minister of Home Affairs Noor100.2.1.3-3640 of 2023 and through a handover ceremony led by Acting Governor of Central Papua Ribka Haluk at EmeNemeYauwere Building, Timika City, Monday, September 4.

"Based on the Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Number 100.2.1.3640 of 2023 concerning the Reactivation of the Mimika Regency Regent and the Dismissal of the Acting Regent (Pj) of Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province," Ribka said as quoted by ANTARA.

With the handover of the position of Acting Regent of Mimika Valentinus Sudarjanto Sumito to Mimika Regent Eltinus Omaleng, Eltinus again served as regional head until the end of his tenure in 2024.

"Today, Mimika Regent Eltinus Omaleng has been officially reactivated based on the Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia," said Ribka.

Meanwhile, Vanessa Sudarjanto Sumito said that the reactivation of Eltinus as regent showed that the corruption case that ensnared Eltinus was only used by certain parties.

"The Minister of Home Affairs has firmly said that this is a government process that must be carried out," said Valentinus.

Eltinus thanked President Joko Widodo and Tito Karnavian for deciding to reactivate his position as regent of Mimika.

"I invite all of us to continue to work well and honestly on this land, so that the vision and mission can be carried out," said Eltinus.

The Corruption Court at the Makassar District Court, South Sulawesi, acquitted Eltinus Omaleng as a defendant in the corruption case for the construction of the Kingmi Mimika Church on July 17, 2023.

In the corruption case, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects that Eltinus has special attention to determine the winner himself from the Kingmi Mile 32 Church construction project in Mimika Regency, Central Papua.

The KPK prosecutor team has also submitted a memorandum of cassation against Eltimus Omaleng's release verdict on August 10, 2023.

In the memorandum of cassation, the KPK Prosecutor's Team argued that the Makassar District Court Panel of Judges, when reading the acquittal, did not read out and elaborated on legal considerations containing the reasons and articles of laws and regulations as the basis of the decision.

According to the KPK prosecutor, the actions of the panel of judges were contrary to the provisions of Article 195 and Article 199 paragraph (1) letter b of the Criminal Procedure Code.