KPK: 601 Village Fund Corruption Cases Has Taken 686 Village Heads

KPK chairman Firli Bahuri (Photo: Wardhani Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said there were 601 corruption cases related to village funds that ensnared 686 village heads. This number was recorded from 2012 to 2021. "That's why the KPK formed the Anti-Corruption Village program. Why? Because we believe that starting from our village, we can create Indonesia free from corruption," Firli said in a written statement, Tuesday, October 18. Firli revealed that the village funds that have been disbursed by the central government have reached Rp470 trillion since 2015-2022. However, the residents did not feel the money optimally. The KPK revealed that 12.29 percent of rural communities are still in poverty. In fact, existing village funds should be used to advance villages, improve welfare, alleviate poverty, and improve the community's economy. This condition, continued Firli, was caused by poor knowledge and management of the village system. As a result, the gap in corruption is open and development is hampered. "The goal of the state is difficult to realize if corruption still exists and makes Indonesia unable to progress. Corruption must be used as a common enemy that we must fight and clean up," he said. Meanwhile, Deputy for Education and Community Participation Wawan Wardiana said that a number of modes of village fund corruption were found. These include budget inflations, projects and fictitious reports, to budget embezzlement. "This situation and condition shows that corrupt behavior has penetrated the village which is the spearhead of this country and the smallest government system. There needs to be joint efforts to eradicate consistent and sustainable corruption," said Wawan.