Aceh Prosecutor's Office Examines 65 Farmers Related To PSR Corruption Cases Rp43.7 Billion

Aceh Attorney General's Office Investigators examined documents related to the PSR program in Aceh Jaya Regency. BETWEEN/HO-Penkum Aceh Prosecutor's Office

BANDA ACEH - Aceh High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) investigators examined and questioned 65 farmers or planters in a case of alleged corruption in the oil palm rejuvenation program (PSR) in Aceh Jaya Regency with a value of Rp43.7 billion.

Head of the Legal Information and Public Relations Section of the Aceh Attorney General's Office, Ali Rasa Lubis, said that the examination and request for information were to what extent the benefits of the PSR program, which is the Cooperative of Agriculture and Mangat in Aceh Jaya Regency in 2019 and 2020.

"The relics of the farmer or planter are the parties proposed as recipients of the PSR program by the Sama Mangat Agriculture Cooperative. Information from the farmer is needed to uncover this alleged corruption crime," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, June 13.

In addition to asking for information from farmers or planters, the investigative team together with the auditor team also examined the field for oil palm plantations that were proposed to receive the people's oil palm rejuvenation program. In addition to field inspections, the team also took pictures through the air of land conditions or plantations that benefited from the PSR program.

The total proposed land or oil palm plantations have a PSR program with an area of 1,532 hectares. The land consists of Aleu Meuraksa with an area of 435 hectares, in Pasie Timon with an area of 443 hectares, in Tuwi Peria covering an area of 489 hectares, and in Alue Punti covering an area of 147 hectares.

"The examination and air photos are to ascertain whether the land really meets the requirements for the oil palm rejuvenation program or not. This field data is to complete the investigation documents," said Ali Rasab Lubis.

From the results of field checks and air photos, he said, the proposed land for the PSR program was still in the form of forest and shrubs. Then, there is an oil palm plantation in the transmigration area.

"In addition, the investigative team also searched the Aceh Jaya District Agriculture Service Office and confiscated a number of documents related to the PSR program of the Sama Mangat Agriculture Cooperative. Confiscation of documents to support the evidence of the case," he said.

The allegation of corruption began with the submission of a proposal for assistance for the people's oil palm rejuvenation program by the Sama Mangat Agriculture Cooperative in Aceh Jaya Regency from 2019 to 2021.

The proposal was submitted to the Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency through the Aceh Jaya Regency Agriculture Service, the Aceh Province Agriculture and Plantation Service and the Directorate General of Plantation at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Regarding the proposal, the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency distributed a budget to each planter through the account of the Agriculture Cooperative Sama Mangat with a total of IDR 43.7 billion.

From the results of the investigation, initial evidence was found that there were allegations of corruption in the implementation of the people's oil palm rejuvenation program in Aceh Jaya Regency, so that the handling of the case was increased to the investigation stage.

"The handling of cases has been upgraded to the investigation stage. However, investigators have not yet determined who is responsible as a suspect. Investigators are still working to find evidence and statements from witnesses," said Ali Rasab Lubis.