Deputy Governor Of Mimika, Regional Secretary And Head Of Finance Examined By The Papua Attorney General's Office Regarding Corruption In Procuring Planes And Helicopters

Head of the Papua Attorney General's Office Nikolaus Kondomo. (ANTARA)

PAPUA - Investigators from the Papua High Prosecutor's Office asked for information from a number of Mimika Regency Government officials, namely the deputy regent, regional secretary and head of the financial department regarding allegations of corruption in the procurement of aircraft and helicopters. "It is true that the three officials within the Mimika Regency Government have been questioned as witnesses some time ago. Their examination was carried out in Jayapura," said Head of the Papua High Prosecutor's Office Nikolaus Kondomo confirmed in Jayapura, Antara, Friday, October 21. From the results of the examination conducted by investigators, it was found that there were indications of elements against the law and state losses in the project to procure aircraft and helicopters in Mimika Regency. "Reports from the investigating prosecutor do have allegations of state losses so that in the near future we will see the progress of the case," explained Kondomo. Kajati added that until now more than 20 people have been examined as witnesses, including the deputy regent and regional secretary of Mimika Regency. The witnesses were examined in connection with allegations of corruption in the procurement of aircraft and helicopters carried out by the Mimika Regency Transportation Service with a budget value of Rp85.7 billion. The project to procure aircraft and helicopters from the Mimika Regency APBD for the 2015 to 2022 fiscal year, with details of the procurement of the Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, received a budget allocation of Rp. 34 billion and an Airbus H-125 helicopter worth Rp. 43.8 billion. The aircraft and helicopters were operated by PT Asian One Air, but the cooperation was not clear because the operational costs of Rp. 21 billion were charged to the Mimika Regency Government. "From the provisional inspection, it was revealed that the procurement of Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft and Airbus H-125 helicopters aimed at providing transportation services for people whose territory is difficult to reach," said Papuan Attorney General Nikolaus Kondomo.