Kapuas Hulu Regency Government Does Not Provide ASN Legal Aid Entangled In Arowana Fish Corruption

KAPUAS HULU - Kapuas Hulu Regency Government confirmed that there was no legal assistance for state civil servants who were caught in a corruption case, as was the case of alleged corruption in the procurement of arowana fish involving two ASN in Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan.

"We cannot budget for assistance or legal assistance for corruption cases," said Kapuas Hulu Regency Secretary Mohd Zainidi Putussibau as reported by ANTARA, Monday, September 25.

Zaini conveyed that the ASN with the initials S and IS were involved in a case of alleged corruption in the Arowana fish procurement program, according to the rules, threatened to be fired from their status as ASN.

According to him, local governments are not allowed to provide legal assistance to corruption cases involving ASN. Legal assistance can be provided for other cases, such as civil cases and state administration.

"Actually, it's a dilemma for us too with a heavy heart, of course we will continue to implement the applicable regulations," said Zaini.

Previously, the Kapuas Hulu District Attorney's Office had detained two suspects with the initials S and IS who are ASN in the Kapuas Hulu Regency Government in a case of alleged corruption in the Arowana fish procurement program.

For the actions of the two suspects, the state suffered a loss of around Rp. 350 million from the budget ceiling for the Arowana fish procurement program of Rp. 1.1 billion at the Kapuas Hulu District Fisheries Service in 2020.

Zaini appealed to all ASN in Kapuas Hulu Regency to be careful in carrying out their duties so that corruption cases do not happen again.

Local governments are said to have tried to prevent corruption through cooperation with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), other law enforcement officers and also the Kapuas Hulu Inspectorate.

"The district inspectorate has carried out socialization based on the regulations from the KPK and that is very firm. Let alone corruption, accepting gratuities is not allowed. So, prevention efforts have actually been carried out," said Zaini.