NTB Regional Police Name Two Suspects in the IDR 19 Billion ABBM Corruption Case in Mataram

The Investigation Building of the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the West Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) Regional Police

MATARAM - Investigators from the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the West Nusa Tenggara Regional Police have named two suspects in the alleged corruption case in the procurement of teaching and learning aids (ABBM) at the Mataram Health Polytechnic.

Acting Head of Public Relations of the NTB Regional Police Chief, Commissioner Lalu Muhammad, Iwan Mahardan in Mataram, Tuesday, confirmed the determination of suspects in the handling of the corruption case.

"Yes, two suspects have been named", said Iwan quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 31.

The initials of the two suspects are A and Z. Regarding the roles of the two suspects, Iwan is not prepared to disclose this to the public. "Later", he said.

Likewise with the value of state losses as a result of an audit by the NTB Representative Office for Finance and Development (BPKP), Iwan asked for time to confirm it back to investigators. "Check it out later", he said.

Even though he hasn't explained it in full, Iwan ensures that investigators have now prepared a new agenda. Examination of the suspect is included in the series of settlements of the case.

The procurement of ABBM comes from the 2017 APBN (State Budget) which is channelled through the Ministry of Health with a budget of IDR 19 billion.

ABBM purchased goods through e-catalogues, but some went directly through a tender system and were won by seven supply companies involving 11 distributors.

One of the items purchased was a mannequin doll. The tool is used to support practice in the departments of nurses, midwives, nutrition and health analysts.

However, it is suspected that some of the goods sourced from the procurement cannot be utilized so they have a stalled status. The reason the campus cannot use it is that it is not by the learning curriculum needs.

From this case, findings emerged from the Inspectorate General of the Ministry of Health worth IDR 4 billion. This figure is still general because it does not only come from the Mataram Ministry of Health Health Polytechnic but also from the Ministry of Health Health Polytechnic in Banda Aceh and Tasikmalaya, West Java.

Investigators have also asked for a copy of the findings of the Inspector General of the Ministry of Health for auditing state losses. However, the Inspectorate General refused the request so investigators traced the loss by cooperating with the BPKP.

As a result of seeming slow since handling in 2018, this case has come under scrutiny by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

As a form of attention, the anti-corruption agency routinely coordinates and supervises the handling of the case.

Finally, in early September 2022, the Corruption Eradication Commission held a joint corps by inviting investigators and the BPKP auditors to find solutions to the problems that hindered the development of the case.