Banjar Village Head Defendant Of Extortion Rp709 Million Pretext For Madrasah Teacher Salary Disidang

Mantan Kades Sungai Alat, Kabupaten Banjar, Puaidi, menjalani sidang kasus korupsi Selasa (18/2/2025). (ANTARA/Firman)

BANJARMASIN - The Banjarmasin Corruption Crime District Court, South Kalimantan, has begun to hear cases of illegal levies (extortion) worth Rp709 million by Puadi, Village Head (Kades) Sungai Alat, Astambul District, Banjar Regency.

"Today is the agenda for the trial of reading the indictment by the public prosecutor (JPU)," said Chief Justice Arias Dedy in Banjarmasin, Tuesday, February 18, as reported by ANTARA.

The Public Prosecutor's Team from the Banjar District Attorney's Office, Erwin Dwi Kurnia, explained that the defendant Puaidi was charged with illegal levies made in the 2021-2024 period.

During his tenure as Head of Sungai Alat Village, the defendant carried out extortion for the village apparatus's monthly salary, starting from the Head of Finance to the Village Secretary (Sekdes) of Sungai Alat.

In addition, the defendant also collected beneficiaries of direct cash assistance (BLT).

In fact, the defendant also collected queues for filling fuel oil (BBM) at gas stations located in Sungai Alat Village.

"The total nominal reached Rp709 million," said Erwin.

The prosecutor revealed that the defendant's excuse in collecting the collection was for the construction of alkah, the salaries of madrasas teachers and kindergarten teachers in the village, but the facts were not realized by the defendant.

Puaidi's actions were charged with Article 12 letter e of Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption.

It is known that the defendant Puaidi previously fled during the second phase of the process at the Banjar Kejari on December 4, 2024, by investigators from the Banjar Police Corruption Unit.

The defendant took advantage of the opportunity to escape when permission to go to the toilet.

However, his escape stopped on December 26, 2024 when the police managed to arrest him in Bersujud Village, Simpang Empat District, Tanah Bumbu Regency.