Jakarta (ANTARA) - Investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) interrogated two witnesses on Monday regarding the auction process for a tsunami shelter construction project in West Nusa Tenggara.

The two witnesses—treasurer Baiq Fahmi and technical assistant Purwanto Joko Astriyo—are officials of the province's Building and Environmental Management Work Unit (PBL) under the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, according to KPK spokesperson Tessa Mahardika.

The KPK had scheduled examinations for two more officials from the same office—Jublina Marselina Tawa and Ika Sri Rejeki—but they requested a postponement.

The anti-graft agency is investigating allegations of corruption in the 2014 construction project. Two suspects have been identified so far in the case: a state administrator and a state-owned company employee.

Mahardika declined to comment on the specifics of the suspects or their alleged actions.

He said that further details will be released upon the completion of the investigation. However, he estimated state losses from the project to be Rp19 billion (around US$1.2 million).

Meanwhile, KPK investigation director Asep Guntur Rahayu said that the alleged corruption compromised the quality of the tsunami shelters.

"Inspections have confirmed a decline in construction quality," he said. "This would render the shelters ineffective in the event of a tsunami, although, of course, we hope that never happens."

Rahayu emphasized the importance of using construction experts during the investigation.

"Poorly built shelters would be disastrous in a tsunami. That's why we have construction experts involved in assessing these buildings," he added.

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Translator: Fianda Sjofjan Rassat, Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: Anton Santoso
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