LPRI Merauke Asks Government to Reveal 10 Major Corruption Cases in Papua

Chairman of the Branch Leadership Board of the Indonesian Reform Monitoring Institute (LPRI) Merauke Regency, Papua, Siprianus Muda asked the government to reveal 10 major cases of alleged corruption in Papua.

It was said that the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Polhukam), Mahfud MD, in mid-2021 stated that the government would take action against cases of alleged corruption in Papua, because there are suspected to be around 10 cases of misappropriation of state funds that have been identified.

"But until now, we have not heard whether the government's statement is really proven, we ask for it to be revealed," said Siprianus Muda.

According to him, the government's submission is like a promise for Papua that must be answered. If not, the public could just accuse the government that something had happened. "The public can think, there could be a game between the regions and the center, so that allegations of corruption cases settle," he explained.

Sipri explained that the statement by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs represented President Joko Widodo. The government should not announce it if it is unable to prove it. "It's been six months since the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs opened it to the public, all of Papua is waiting," he said.

Meanwhile, LPRI Merauke urged the Corruption Eradication Commission to follow up on allegations of corruption in the Special Autonomy funds in Papua. "This is an old question, it is right in front of our eyes, we ask the KPK to investigate this," he said.

Previously, the Intelligence and Security Agency (Baintelkam) of the National Police had disclosed BPK's findings related to allegations of corruption in Papua's Special Autonomy funds. This was revealed at the 2021 Police Leadership Meeting (Rapim) forum last February.

From the results of a search by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), there is waste and ineffectiveness in the use of the budget. In addition, there are mark ups or price inflations in the procurement of a number of public facilities in Papua. There were also fictitious payments in the construction of hydropower plants of around Rp. 9.67 billion, as well as misappropriation of other funds of more than Rp. 1.8 trillion.

SOURCE: https://rri.co.id/jayapura/area/1281223/lpri-merauke-minta-government-unjuk-10-case-korupsi-besar-di-papua