Swiss Foreigner Defendant For Exploitation Of Air Gili Trawangan Examined By The NTB Prosecutor's Office

President Director of PT BAL William John? (right) who is a water exploitation defendant in Gili Trawangan and Meno, accompanied by a lawyer after undergoing examination at the NTB Prosecutor's Office, Mataram, NTB, Tuesday (22/4/2025). (ANTARA/Dhimas B.P.)

NTB - The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) examined the defendant William John airshed, who is a foreign national (WNA) Swiss in the case of water exploitation in Gili Trawangan and Meno.

Spokesperson for the NTB Prosecutor's Office, Efrien Saputera, explained that John's examination, who is now a city prisoner, is related to the investigation into alleged corruption in cooperation in the development and management of the drinking water supply system at Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno between PT Gerbang NTB Emas (GNE) and his company, PT Berkat Air Laut (BAL).

"William John's capacity was asked for information as a witness in connection with his position as President Director of PT BAL," said Efrien in Mataram, Tuesday, April 22, which was confiscated by Antara.

William John's examination, as a witness, he said, was still generally related to the status and cooperation of his company with PT GNE, which is one of the NTB regional-owned enterprises (BUMD).

William John, who was met after undergoing an examination at around 12.00 WITA with the assistance of his attorney, chose not to comment to reporters.

Furthermore, Efrien explained that in the investigation stage that has been running since January 2025, there have been 15 witnesses who have undergone examination before special criminal investigators.

"These 15 witnesses consist of the North Lombok Regency Government, the NTB Provincial Government, and PDAM Amerta Dayan Gunung Lombok Utara," he said.

This case was previously revealed to have been included in the handling of the NTB Regional Police. However, the alleged corruption related to the government's capital investment budget to PT GNE as the organizer of the regional drinking water supply system (SPAM) in 2019 '2022 was stopped at the investigation stage.

The termination status is in accordance with the letter of termination of investigation Number: S.Tap/52/XII/2023/Ditreskrimsus dated December 29, 2023.

In the letter, the NTB Police stopped the investigation originating from public reports taking into account the results of the case title on December 20, 2023.

The NTB Regional Police stated that the report did not fulfill the elements of the article as stipulated in Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001.

William John's status as a defendant who is currently under city detention in the case of water exploitation in Gili Trawangan was recorded at the Mataram District Court with Samsul Hadi, Director of PT GNE. The status of the cases of the two defendants is now waiting for a copy of the cassation decision from the Supreme Court on the public prosecutor's submission.

In the first instance court decision on October 31, 2024, Samsul Hadi and William John as two company directors who built cooperation in providing clean water in Gili Trawangan and Meno were sentenced to one year in prison with a fine of Rp. 1 billion, subsidiary to 3 months in prison.

The actions of the two were found guilty of violating Article 70 letter d in conjunction with Article 49 paragraph (2) and paragraph (1) of Law No. 6 of 2023 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulations in Lieu of Law No. 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation.

The judge applied the indictment by stating that the defendant William John had been proven guilty of a criminal act, namely intentionally providing clean water without a business license from November 2019 to October 2022.

Meanwhile, against Samsul Hadi, the judge stated that the defendant's actions as director of PT GNE had been proven to have committed a criminal act by deliberately giving William John the opportunity as Director of PT BAL to run a business without obtaining a valid business license according to government regulations.

In the decision of the NTB High Court, the judge at the appeal level upheld the decision of the Mataram District Court Number: 382/Pid.B/LH/2024/PN Mtr. dated October 31, 2024, which was requested for the appeal.