KPK Intervenes In Cases Of Deviation From COVID-19 Funds From West Sumatra To Spend Hand Sanitizers

KPK (VOI)

PADANG - Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission, Nurul Ghufron, said that his party had received reports of alleged misuse of COVID-19 funds from the West Sumatra Anti-Corruption Community Coalition. The KPK is currently studying the case under its authority.

"The reports are already there. Of course we will first learn whether this is a criminal act of corruption and falls under the authority of the KPK or not, ”said Nurul Ghufron as quoted by Antara, Thursday, March 18.

The KPK stated that if this case falls into the realm of corruption but is not under the KPK's authority, the case will be handled by the police or the prosecutor's office.

Meanwhile the Head of the West Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office (Kajati) Anwarudin Sulistiyono said that currently the investigation process was being carried out by the West Sumatra Regional Police.

"This has begun to be questioned at the Regional Police, so we are waiting because we have a memorandum of understanding with which agency has held it first. That is what we are following. But we are monitoring it," he said.

Previously, the BPK found indications of expensive prices on the purchase of hand sanitizers related to the handling of COVID-19 in West Sumatra of IDR 4.9 billion.

The findings were then followed up by the West Sumatra DPRD by forming a special committee.

In addition, a number of community organizations and student representatives also encouraged the case to be resolved completely.

Head of Public Relations of the West Sumatra Regional Police, Kombes Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto, confirmed that the investigation was carried out to the Kalaksa and the BPBD Treasurer of West Sumatra as witnesses regarding the alleged misappropriation of COVID-19 funds.