Corruption At Arun Hospital, Former Mayor Of Lhokseumawe Charged With State Loss Of IDR 44.9 Billion

The defendant Suaidi Yahya, former Mayor of Lhokseumawe attended the trial of the hospital corruption case at the Banda Aceh Corruption Court, Monday (23/10/2023). ANTARA/M Haris SA

BANDA ACEH - The public prosecutor (JPU) charged former Mayor of Lhokseumawe Suaidi Yahya with a criminal act of corruption at Arun Lhokseumawe Hospital, Aceh, causing state losses of Rp44.9 billion.

The prosecutor read out the indictment at the first trial of the alleged corruption case at the Arun Lhokseumawe Hospital at the Banda Aceh Corruption Court in Banda Aceh, Monday, October 23.

The trial was chaired by Hendrar, the Chief Justice of the Panel of Judges together with Sadri and R Deddy, who were members of the panel of judges, respectively.

The defendant Suaidi Yahya was present at the trial using a wheelchair because he was sick. The defendant was present accompanied by his legal adviser T Fakhririal Dani, Syamsul Rizal, and friends.

The prosecutor in his indictment stated that the defendant as Mayor of Lhokseumawe in the period 2016 to 2022 transferred the ownership of state assets in the form of Arun Hospital to Hariadi and Junaidi Yahya under the auspices of PT Arun Lhokseumawe Hospital.

Hariadi, who was charged in the same case, was appointed as Director of Arun Hospital by the defendant Suaidi Yahya. Meanwhile, Junaidi Yahya is the defendant's younger brother.

The public prosecutor said that PT Arun Lhokseumawe Hospital is not a subsidiary of PT Pembangunan Lhokseumawe, or in other words PT Arun Lhokseumawe Hospital is not a regionally owned enterprise. In fact, Arun Lhokseumawe Hospital is a state asset.

In its operations, Arun Lhokseumawe Hospital did not use Hariadi and Junaidi Yahya's money, but used hospital money. Because when the Lhokseumawe City Government took the hospital, the health facility had its own operational costs.

"All the benefits of the hospital are enjoyed by private people. Even though the hospital is a state asset. As a result of this act, the state lost billions of rupiah," said the prosecutor as quoted by ANTARA.

The prosecutor said that based on an audit by the Lhokseumawe City Inspectorate, the state losses incurred reached Rp44.9 billion. The state losses include payment of salaries, allowances, and others that are not valid for Hariadi as the main director.

After hearing the prosecutor's indictment, the panel of judges asked whether to file a memorandum of defense or not. However, the defendant through legal counsel stated that he did not file a memorandum of defense.

Meanwhile, T Fakhrial Dani, the defendant's legal adviser, Suaidi Yahya, asked the panel of judges to transfer the detention status from the detention center to house arrest because the defendant's condition was sick.

"We ask for the transfer of the defendant's detention from the detention center to the house because our client is undergoing treatment due to illness. Currently, our client is still being treated at the hospital," said T Fakhrial Dani.