Kejari Penajam Kaltim Endus Corruption Practices Unloading Charges At Benuo Port

Illustration of bribery (ANTARA)

PENAJAM - Penajam Paser Utara District Attorney, East Kalimantan (Kaltim), concluded that there were indications of irregularities in regional retribution funds collected from loading and unloading activities at Benuo Taka Port located in Buluminung Village, Penajam District.

"We have investigated and examined witnesses, it was concluded that there was an alleged misappropriation of the loading and unloading levy funds at Benuo Taka Port," said Head of the North Penajam Paser District Attorney Faisal Arifuddin as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, June 6.

He said his party had also named two suspects for alleged irregularities in the port levy levy.

Faisal said the investigation warrant regarding the alleged misappropriation of the levy levy levy at Benuo Taka Port was issued in 2023, after investigating the port case, the former Director of the Benuo Taka Regional Public Company (Perumda) with the initials HY was named a suspect.

In addition, he said, the Head of the Finance Section of Perumda Benuo Taka with the initials KA was also named a suspect in the Benuo Taka Port case.

According to him, the investigative team found that regional income was reduced from the Benuo Taka Port levy sector, Rp2,247,934,259. The state loss occurred when the loading and unloading service for port goods and services was handled by Perumda Benuo Taka in 2021.

"The alleged irregularities in regional retribution funds at the port belonging to the North Penajam Paser Regency Government occurred for six months in 2021 when Perumda Benuo Taka took over port management from the local Transportation Service," he said.

The mode of the case at Benuo Taka Port, he said, was that the proceeds from the port levy were used not according to the company's work plan and did not have a business plan, and was used for personal gain.

He also said that the North Penajam Paser District Attorney did not detain the two suspects because they were still convicted of corruption in the capital investment case of Perumda Benuo Taka, which was handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in 2023.

He added that until now HY and KA are still serving prison terms or imprisonment at the Sukamiskin Penitentiary (Lapas) in West Java Province.

"So, we did not detain the two suspects, but if they have been transferred to court, they will be temporarily transferred to Samarinda Prison to launch the trial process," said Faisal Arifuddin.