bag containing Rp 161.34 million (US$11,000) in village funds in cash was stolen in Maumere city, Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Friday, the Sikka Police have said.
Sikka Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sajimin said the Wolomage village treasurer, Theresia Pio, had stopped by a store in Maumere city to buy some things. She had the bag of cash with her.
She left the bag at the store’s bag check counter, but as she was leaving, she found that it had disappeared along with the cash inside it.
“The bag full of cash was stolen,” Sajimin said on Saturday, as quoted by kompas.com.
Store surveillance footage from the time of the bag’s disappearance shows two men in the shop. One is haggling over the price of a carpet on display in front of the store, distracting the staff at the bag check counter. The other takes the bag from the counter while the attendants are looking away.
The police are searching for the two apparent thieves.
The village fund program is one of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's flagship policies. About Rp 257 trillion was distributed to villages during Jokowi’s first term, and the amount is set to increase to Rp 400 trillion in the 2019-2024 period. (trn)
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