Gowa Regent Investigated by South Sulawesi Police in Connection with Alleged Corruption of School Uniforms Rp16 Billion

Gowa Regent Sitti Husniah Talenrang (ANTARA)

MAKASSAR - Gowa Regent Sitti Husniah Talenrang was investigated by the South Sulawesi Regional Police in the investigation of the alleged corruption case in the procurement of free school uniforms for elementary and junior high school in the 2025 fiscal year. The program, which was funded by the Gowa Regency's regional income and expenditure budget (APBD), had a budget value of Rp. 16 billion.

Sitti Husniah Talenrang underwent an examination at the office of Subdirectorate III of Corruption Crimes (Tipidkor) of the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the South Sulawesi Police, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan, Tamalanrea District, Makassar City, Wednesday, July 29.

When he arrived at the location, Husniah was wearing white clothes and was accompanied by his legal team. The examination lasted more than 7 hours as part of the investigation process for alleged corruption in the procurement of free school uniforms in Gowa Regency.

After undergoing an examination, Husniah confirmed that his presence was a form of compliance with the ongoing legal process.

"I am here to fulfill my call as a good citizen. Of course we have to follow the rules," he said.

However, Husniah was not willing to explain the details of the examination to the media.

"Please from the investigators," he said as he left the location.

Gowa regent's lawyer, Amirullah, explained that his client was examined in his capacity as a witness. According to him, the examination was carried out because Husniah was the general manager of the administration of local government.

"The capacity of the regent is examined as a witness. As regent, the general manager in the government is yes, his capacity is like that, a witness in the procurement of free school uniforms, the reporter we don't know. The legal effort we leave to the investigators," he said.

Previously, the Head of Public Relations of the South Sulawesi Police, Kombes Pol Didik Supranoto, revealed that in addition to the regent of Gowa, investigators had examined at least eight witnesses. They consist of the head of the Gowa Regency Education Service as well as a number of parties who are suspected of knowing the process of procuring free school uniforms.

Didik added that the case has now risen to the investigation stage. However, investigators are still waiting for the results of an audit from the Financial Audit Agency (BPK) to determine the amount of state losses arising in the project.

"The BPK audit, we are just waiting because the audit has been carried out. The results have not come out, but it has been determined in the investigation process," he said.

The project for the procurement of free school uniforms includes around 20,000 uniform packages for elementary and junior high school students in Gowa Regency with a total budget of Rp. 16 billion.

During the investigation process, the police suspected that there were a number of irregularities in the procurement mechanism that could potentially cause state losses.

Until now, the South Sulawesi Regional Police's Tipidkor investigators are still investigating the case, including tracing the parties suspected of being responsible. The results of the BPK audit will later become one of the important bases in determining the amount of state losses and the next legal steps in the case of alleged corruption in the procurement of free school uniforms in Gowa Regency.