Buleleng district attorney has named eight civil servants as suspects for the alleged misappropriation of at least IDR656 million (US$47,225) from the region’s COVID-19 recovery fund, as authorities continue their investigation into the case.
The civil servants, all of whom worked at Buleleng’s Tourism Agency, reportedly marked up hotel fees in programs designed to boost local tourism amid the coronavirus pandemic. One of the programs was called Explore Buleleng, which had a budget of IDR2.5 billion (US$179,953) and was conducted four times between November and December last year.
“Each of them has a different role, it depends on the activities they handled,” AA Jayalantara, who heads the intelligence unit at Buleleng district attorney’s office, previously said.
Authorities have so far seized IDR377 million as evidence, and the suspects were summoned in for questioning today.
Under Indonesia’s corruption law, the suspects face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of IDR1 billion (US$71,981).
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