Corruption Case In Land Procurement In Simeulue Rises Investigation, Aceh Prosecutor's Office Still Examines 42 Witnesses

Head of Legal Information and Public Relations of the Aceh High Prosecutor's Office Ali Rasab Lubis. BETWEEN/M Haris SA

Aceh High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) investigators examined 42 witnesses related to alleged corruption in land acquisition for irrigation network construction in Simeulue Regency with a value of Rp39.9 billion. "Until now, investigators have examined and asked for information from 42 witnesses. The witnesses are parties related to the case," said Head of the Legal Information and Public Relations Section of the Aceh Attorney General's Office, Ali Rasab Lubis, in Banda Aceh, Antara, Tuesday, January 16. Ali Rasab said investigators had increased the handling of the case from the investigation stage to the investigation stage. However, investigators have not determined who the suspects are. According to him, the examination or request for information from dozens of witnesses was to collect information to obtain evidence before determining which parties were the suspects. "As for the state's losses, investigators have not been able to publish because the calculation of state losses is still in the process of related parties," said Ali Rasab Lubis. Previously, the Aceh Attorney General's Office investigated allegations of corruption in compensation for land acquisition for the construction of an irrigation network in Siglai in Simeulue Regency, Aceh for the 2019 fiscal year. In that year, the Aceh Provincial Waters Service allocated a budget of IDR 39.9 billion for land acquisition for the construction of irrigation networks with an area of 88.52 hectares. Based on the results of the procurement plan, the cost of land acquisition at the lowest price was IDR 26.5 billion and the highest price reached IDR 38.2 billion. However, the lowest price was not in accordance with what the consultant set for IDR 17.8 billion. In addition, land ownership consists of 26 parcels or fields, consisting of 25 parcels controlled by residents and one parcel is village land. However, the implementation changed to 32 areas of individuals and one area of land belonging to the village.

From the results of the investigation, the Aceh Attorney General's Office investigator team found indications of losses reaching Rp2.1 billion. Based on the results of the investigation, the Aceh Attorney General's Office investigator team increased the handling of cases to the investigation stage.