Insya Allah (God willing), I am not afraid to work for the country and for Garut DistrictGarut, West Java (ANTARA) - Since being appointed as head of the Garut District Prosecutor’s Office (Kejari) on August 9, 2021, Neva Devi Susanti has taken immediate actions.
In just 1.5 months, the Fugitive Arrest Unit mobilized by Susanti managed to capture two corruption fugitives: Misbach Somantri and Tauhidi Fachrurozi.
Somantri, who was a former speaker of the Garut District Regional Legislative Assembly (DPRD Garut) for the 1999-2004 period, had been a fugitive for 13 years.
He was arrested in Pangatikan Sub-district, Garut District, on September 9, 2021.
The Bulan Bintang Party (PBB) politician, who was one of the 12 speakers of the regional assembly, stole Rp6 billion of the institution’s official visit and meeting funds.
The corruptors were sentenced to four years in prison. Some of them have served their punishment, surrendered, and died.
Meanwhile, Somantri -- an elderly now -- has not served any sentence since the judges found him and his colleagues guilty in 2008.
Amid those 13 years, he just went missing. However, on September 2021, a tip-off was received that Misbach was going to return to the district.
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The Fugitive Arrest Unit wasted no time and acted swiftly. Currently, he is serving a sentence at the Garut District Detention Center.
In the following week, the unit captured Fachrurozi, a construction developer, who has been a fugitive in a corruption case since 2009.
He was found guilty of misusing the construction budget of the Cilauteureun Fish Auction Market being built in the district.
Funding for the project was sourced from the 2005 West Java Province’s regional budget. Hence, as a result of the crime, the provincial government incurred losses to the tune of Rp599 million out of the total budget of over Rp1.1 billion.
The construction developer’s getaway was discovered, as his identity was detected after filing a divorce suit against his wife at the Subang District Religious Affair Court.
Later, he was taken to Garut District to serve his two-year sentence at the Garut District Detention Center according to the judge's verdict as well as a fine of Rp200 million and compensation of Rp499 million, with subsidiaries of six months and a year in prison respectively.
The Garut District Kejari’s attempts in catching the fugitives remind the public of the presence of perpetrators, who have not served their sentence.
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The head of the regional prosecutor’s office told reporters that currently her institution was re-listing corruptors recorded in the wanted list.
She pointed out that several corruption fugitives, including Somantri’s colleague, had yet to surrender.
"We have collected data," she informed.
Susanti expressed readiness to conduct her duty of hunting down corruptors currently on the run. She also admitted to not being afraid to confront the fugitives.
Meanwhile, her unit noted that several people are currently on the radar to be arrested and be placed in prison at the earliest.
"There are several targets who will be pursued later. Insya Allah (God willing), I am not afraid to work for the country and for Garut District," the first woman, who led the regional prosecutor’s office, remarked.
No slacking off
The Garut District Kejari’s Fugitive Arrest Unit was lauded by the Head of the West Java Provincial Higher Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) Asep Nana Mulyana amid his visit to the district.
Mulyana assessed that under the leadership of the new head, the unit was quite successful, as within 1.5 months, it had arrested two corruption fugitives.
The success is expected to motivate the other regional prosecutor’s office.
"It is amazing. It has been just a month and a half. However, the unit has managed to execute long-time fugitives,” he remarked.
The provincial higher prosecutor's office greatly supports and continues to encourage the unit to catch corruption fugitives recorded on the wanted list.
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In addition, the head of West Java Kejati warned the regional prosecutor's office to not slack off or be afraid of dealing with corruptors.
He noted that the Fugitive Arrest Unit embodies a message for the corruptors that there is no shelter for them, as the hunt for them will last a lifetime.
Moreover, the unit was praised by Deputy Head of Garut District Helmi Budiman.
"I highly laud their success, as law enforcement should be an ongoing process," he remarked.
Do not forget new cases
Secretary General of Garut Governance Watch (GGW) Agus Sugandi has taken due note of the success of the Garut District Kejari.
Sugandi noted that several corruption fugitives had continued to escape. Thus, the regional prosecutor’s office should not allow criminals to hide any longer in the community.
Nonetheless, he admitted that the success of the Fugitive Arrest Unit should be lauded, although it is basically a part of their obligation as an institution assigned to execute those who have been sentenced by the court.
However, he reminded the Garut District Kejari to not only arrest the corruption fugitives but also to uncover new corruption cases.
The institution must conduct its duties to the fullest to close old cases as well as resolve recent cases that have not undergone the investigation process or were on trial.
He assessed that the Garut District Kejari would be considered extraordinary if it could uncover corruption cases that involved large sums of money and several suspects – for instance, the alleged corruption case at DPRD Garut.
"The recent case (the report of alleged corruption at the DPRD Garut) should not be left unattended. It has been three years," he pointed out.
The attempts of the Garut District Prosecutor’s Office in solving corruption cases must be supported by all parties, as the crime has caused massive state losses that can disrupt development and the people's welfare.
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Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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