Allegations Of Burning The Buru KPU Office, DPR Urges BPK To Audit Investigative Election Funds

The Buru Resort Police (Polres) have arrested the perpetrators of the burning of the General Election Commission (KPU) office in Buru Regency, Maluku Province.

Chairman of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Muhammad Rifqinizamy Karsayuda, urged the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia to immediately conduct an investigative audit of the use of the election budget, following the alleged burning of the office of the General Election Commission (KPU) of Buru Regency by the local KPU Treasurer, with the initials RH (48).

RH is suspected of being the mastermind behind the arson that was suspected to have been carried out to eliminate traces of budget misuse of Rp33 billion.

"This arson case must be investigated legally with the strongest and fairly. Investigations should not stop at the perpetrators of the field, but must also target anyone involved, including the possible involvement of the KPU commissioner," said Rifqi in a statement to reporters, Monday, April 21.

In addition to the legal process, Rifqi said, Commission II of the DPR RI would encourage an internal audit by the KPU RI Secretariat and the Inspectorate General of KPU RI. The DPR, he said, would also officially ask the BPK RI to conduct a comprehensive investigative audit of the use of election funds, including legislative elections, presidential elections, and in particular regional head elections that use grant funds from local governments.

"We hope this will open Pandora's box if there is a systemic misappropriation of funds," he said.

Rifqi assessed that if there were problems in the financial governance of the election, these findings would be an important input for a thorough evaluation of the national electoral system.

"This evaluation will also form the basis for policy preparation, including revisions to political law packages, such as the Election Law," said the NasDem legislator.