Investigating Corruption In West Sumatra Cultural Park, Prosecutor's Office Collaborates With Construction Experts

The Head of the Special Criminal Section of the Padang Attorney's Office Therry Gutama. ANTARA/FathulAbdi

SUMBAR - The Padang State Prosecutor's Office continues to investigate the alleged corruption case of the cultural building construction project at the West Sumatra Cultural Park (Sumbar) which has a budget ceiling of Rp. 31 billion.

"In investigating this case, we have involved construction experts to examine and assess the physical condition of the building which is suspected to be problematic," said Head of the Special Crimes Section of the Padang Attorney's Office Therry Gutama, in Padang, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, June 22.

He said a team of construction experts had been down to the site since Monday, June 19, to check the condition of the building.

"Furthermore, we are waiting for the results of the field physical examination carried out by this instructional expert, because it is needed in the investigation process," he said.

In addition, the Padang Kejari investigator team also continues to examine the witnesses, the number of witnesses who have been questioned is more than 20 people.

The witnesses came from various backgrounds ranging from State Civil Apparatus (ASN) at the Department of Highways, Cipta Karya and Spatial Planning (BMCKTR) West Sumatra, planning consultants, supervisors, and implementing contractors.

Therry said that the case began with a public report received by the Padang Kejari, then followed up with the investigation stage.

From a series of investigative processes that began on February 24, 2022, the team finally concluded that there were elements of a criminal act so that the case process was raised to the investigation stage on March 30, 2022.

The case relates to the physical construction of buildings in the advanced cultural building project for the 2021 fiscal year with a ceiling of Rp. 31 billion.

"We found that there were jobs that were not in accordance with the contract, so there were indications of state financial losses," he said.

Several irregularities were found, such as the use of building materials that use imported products, so that they are not in accordance with the Presidential Instruction to use domestic products.

"The implementers use products imported from abroad with higher prices, even though there are local products with the same quality at lower prices," he said.

In addition, allegations of irregularities were found in the auction and project construction stages at the West Sumatra Highways, Cipta Karya and Spatial Planning (BMCKTR) Office.

As a result of these problems, until now, the construction of building projects that are single year in nature have become "stalled" and neglected.

The construction of the building did not go according to plan and the contract was terminated at 8.1 percent, while the payment has been disbursed for 28 percent of the work with a value of Rp. 8 billion.

The Padang Attorney General's Office emphasized that it would thoroughly investigate the case, and ensnare anyone who is guilty and has harmed the state's finances.