BPKP Audit Results Published, Azimut Ship Corruption Alleged Case Rises Investigation

Mako Polda Sultra. (ANTARA/La Ode Muh Deden Saputra)

JAKARTA - The Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra) Regional Police stated that they had raised the alleged corruption case of the Azimut 43 Atlantis Ship to the investigation stage.

"We have raised the status of this case from investigation to fingerprint (investigation) based on sufficient preliminary evidence and there has been the results of an initial investigation audit from the BPKP, so that on February 6 the status of fingerprints will be increased," said Head of Sub-Directorate III of Tipidkor Polda Sultra AKBP Ario Putranto Tuhu Mangabdi when met in Kendari, Wednesday, February 12, confiscated by Antara.

He said that until now his party had summoned 23 people as witnesses whose statements were taken regarding the alleged corruption in the procurement of the Azimut ship.

"There are 23 witnesses examined," he said.

Ario Putranto explained that his party had also sent a letter to BPKP asking for the calculation of the state losses that were based on the results of the initial investigation audit to be able to find the exact amount of state losses caused by the alleged corruption in the procurement of the Azimut ship.

He said that in handling the case, no party has been named as a suspect, currently his party is still gathering evidence and examining a number of parties.

"In handling corruption cases, one of which is the case report, we are very careful. We cannot just determine the suspect before the audit results determine that this case has a criminal element, in this case the misuse of the budget. We hope that all parties are patient, we will continue to handle this case thoroughly," he added.

It is known that the alleged corruption case in the procurement of the Azimut 43 Atlantis cruise ship was reported to the Tipidkor Dit Reskrimsus Polda Sultra. The ship is procurement from the Southeast Sulawesi Provincial Government (Pemprov) which spent a budget of Rp9.9 billion sourced from the Southeast Sulawesi Regional Budget.