Police Investigate The Involvement Of Kadisdikbud NTB In The Extortion Case Of The Head Of SMK

Illustration of gratification or the practice of criminal acts of corruption. (Unsplash)

NTB - Police are investigating the involvement of the Head of the Education and Culture Office (Kadisdikbud) of West Nusa Tenggara Province Aidy Furqan in a case of illegal levies (extortion) with the suspect Head of SMK with the initials AM who was caught red-handed on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

Head of the Mataram Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Adjunct Commissioner of Police, Regi Halili, said that his party was conducting an in-depth investigation regarding the involvement of the head of the service based on information from AM, who is now a suspect.

"Indeed, there has been no open involvement (Kadisdikbud NTB). However, the suspect said there was involvement," said Regi in Mataram, Monday, December 23, as quoted by Antara.

He explained that the suspect AM had only recently conveyed Aidy Furqan's verbal involvement, there was no supporting evidence to strengthen the statement.

"So, we are still looking for more evidence," he said.

Regi said that in handling this case, investigators had not examined the Head of the NTB Education and Culture Office, but confirmed that Aidy Furqan was included in the series of examinations.

Since this case was revealed, the police in the investigation stage have examined seven witnesses. Regarding the identities of the witnesses who have been examined, Regi chose not to reveal this too early.

Suspect AM was caught in a hand arrest operation in his room at the NTB Dikbud Office. The police arrested AM with evidence of Rp50 million in cash in red plastic packages.

It is known that the money was only received by suspect AM from the building material supplier company for the project at SMKN 3 Mataram.

It was revealed that the implementation of the project came from the 2024 special allocation fund (DAK) amounting to Rp1.3 billion.

Suspect AM is indicated to have taken advantage of the project by asking the building material supply company to hand over a fee of 5 to 10 percent of the project value.

"Instead, if the fee is not given, the budget will not be disbursed. The project has been completed, it's just a disbursement," he said.

In investigating this case, the police have detained the suspect AM. In the case file, AM is subject to Article 12 letter e of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001.