NTB Bawaslu ASN Detained, Allegedly Darken 12 Operational Cars For Elections

Head of Satreskrim Mataram Police AKP Regi Halili. (ANTARA/Dhimas B.P.)

The Mataram Police have detained a state civil servant (ASN) of the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) with the initials RI, who is suspected of embezzling 12 ex-Operational Bawaslu cars.

Head of the Mataram Police Criminal Investigation Unit AKP Regi Halili said the detention decision was made to prevent the suspect from escaping.

"The consideration of his detention is to anticipate the suspect running away," he said in Mataram, Antara, Monday, October 13.

RI was named a suspect after investigators found sufficient evidence for the violation of Article 372 of the Criminal Code regarding embezzlement.

Currently, investigators are completing the case file for delegation to the research prosecutor.

The case began with a report by the provider of car rental services from Bandung. Dozens of units of vehicles were rented by the NTB Bawaslu for the operation of the 2024 General Election with the contract ending in January 2024.

However, the Republic of Indonesia in charge of returning vehicles actually pawned all cars to a number of parties without the knowledge of Bawaslu and vehicle owners.

"Of the 12 units, we have confiscated some of them and some have been returned directly to the leaser," said Regi.