West Sumatra Prosecutor's Office Names 13 Suspects In Corruption Cases For Compensation For The Padang-Sicincin Toll Road

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PADANG - The West Sumatra (West Sumatra) High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) has named 13 suspects in the alleged corruption case in paying compensation for the Padang-Sicincin toll road, which is a national strategic project.

"After conducting an investigation and collecting evidence, 13 people have finally been named as suspects in this case," said Assistant Intelligence Officer Mustaqpirin and Assistant for Special Crimes at the West Sumatra Attorney General's Office, Suyanto, during a press conference in Padang, quoted by Antara, Friday, October 29.

The dozens of suspects came from various backgrounds, ranging from residents who received compensation money, regional government officials, nagari government officials, as well as from the National Land Agency (BPN).

The group of suspects as recipients of compensation as many as eight people had the initials BK, MR, SP, KD, AH, SY, RF, and SA who were also known to be members of the nagari government.

Meanwhile, the other five suspects are SS with a background in the Nagari government apparatus, YW, a government apparatus in Padangpriaman, then J, RN, US from BPN as the land acquisition committee.

"The thirteen suspects were processed in eleven separate files, and the team is still continuing the investigation process," he explained.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Special Crimes Section, Suyanto, revealed that from the preliminary count, the case had cost the state finances a total of IDR 28 billion.

The loss arose because it was alleged that the money to pay compensation for toll land that had been disbursed by the state was claimed against the law by people who were not entitled to receive compensation.

He said that the problem began when there was a Padang-Sicincin toll road construction project in 2020 and the state prepared money as compensation for land affected by the development.

One of the affected areas is the Biodiversity Park (KEHATI) in Paritmalintang, Padangpariaman Regency, where compensation is received by each person.

After further investigation by the prosecutor's office, it was discovered that the KEHATI park was included in regional assets and was recorded in the assets of the Padangpariaman Regional Financial Management Agency.

Because the land was included in the object when Padangpariaman Regency took care of moving the Regency Capital (IKK) to Parit Malintang in 2007.

Land acquisition in the IKK transfer activity at that time was accompanied by a statement of the release of rights from the land cultivators and compensation was carried out.

The land was finally controlled by the Padangpariaman Regency Government by building the Regent's office (2010), City Forest (2011), Green Open Space (2012), Pau Office (2014), including the KEHATI park (2014) based on the Regent's Decree covering an area of 10 hectares.

At that time, the construction and maintenance of the KEHATI park used the Ministry of Environment's Special Allocation Fund (DAK) and the Padangpariaman Regional Budget.

On the other hand, Asintel emphasized that the current case investigation is purely related to the payment of land compensation, not the physical construction of the toll road project.

So that it will not have an impact on the construction of the toll road project, let alone hamper the work.

"This processing is part of the prosecutor's efforts to support the toll road project as a national strategic project, lest there be irresponsible parties who take personal benefits and harm state finances," he said.