In the not too distant future, we will transfer the case to the corruption court in Padang City, so that he can be tried as soon as possible.Payakumbuh, W Sumatra (ANTARA) - The Payakumbuh Public Prosecutor's Office in West Sumatra detained a local health office head over alleged misappropriation of fund for COVID-19 handling.
A team of investigators has submitted the dossiers of the suspect, identified by his initials as BKZ, to the public prosecutor, Head of the Special Crime Section at the Payakumbuh Public Prosecutor's Office Saut Benhard Damanik stated here on Thursday.
BKZ has been named a suspect since November 25, 2021. He is suspected of embezzling funds for the procurement of personal protective equipment and masks in 2020.
"After we coordinated with the leadership (of the public prosecutor's office), the suspect, under the name of BKZ, will be detained at the Payakumbuh correctional facility starting today," he remarked.
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Damanik noted that BKZ will be detained at the correctional facility for 20 days in accordance with the rules.
"In the not too distant future, we will transfer the case to the corruption court in Padang City, so that he can be tried as soon as possible," he stated.
Based on data collected by the investigator team and calculation made by the auditor, the case inflicted Rp195 million in losses to the state.
Damanik said he did not rule out the possibility that the number of suspects will increase.
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"However, we still focus on this suspect first, while we are studying the cases of others," he stated.
Chief of the Payakumbuh Public Prosecutor's Office Suwarsono noted that for the time being, the public prosecutor's office cannot detain the suspect, as he is one of the members of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force.
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Translator: Miko Elfisha, Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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