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Police probe reports on fictitious villages in West Nias, North Sumatra
The North Sumatra Police are investigating villages in West Nias, Nias Island, following reports of fictitious villages registered with the government to receive government funds.
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A man walks in a village in Boyolali regency, Central Java. Many villages outside Java are still underdeveloped. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)
The North Sumatra Police are investigating villages in West Nias, Nias Island, following reports of fictitious villages registered with the government to receive government funds.
According to the head of the police force’s corruption unit, Comr. Roman Swaradhana, the investigation is based on findings by the Ombudsman of several fictitious villages receiving village funds in the regency.
“The police will investigate the case thoroughly,” Roman said, adding that his side had coordinated with the Ombudsman on the investigation of the case.
The village funds program, which has provided between Rp 800 million (US$56,200) and Rp 1 billion to more than 70,000 villages across the archipelago, is a flagship policy of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration.
Previously, the country was shocked by findings of nonexistent villages in Konawe regency, Southeast Sulawesi, that had been part of the government’s annual allocation.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and Southeast Sulawesi Police have teamed up to probe the alleged embezzlement of village funds in the regency.
