RadarBali.com reports a major corruption case in the Karangasem Regency in Bali involving the purchase of surgical masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The malfeasance took place in the Social Service Department of Karangasem in 2020 and has resulted in the incarceration of 7 government employees.
Preliminary estimates suggest that half of Rp. 2.9 billion allocated for surgical masks had been corrupted.
The head of the Intelligence Division of the Prosecutor’s Office in Karangasem, I Dewa Gede Semara Putra, told the press that his office is scheduling interviews with the seven people in police detention who are listed as “suspects” by the police.
Data compiled by the Bali office of the State Audit Board (BPKP) estimating the actual losses incurred by the Government in the case will be used in the final, formal charges. Preliminary estimations of losses performed by the Prosecutor’s Office suggest that from the Rp. 2.9 billion budgeted for surgical masks and hazmat masks, as much as one-half was corrupted.
All the seven suspects are employees of the Karangasem Social Service Department and have only thus far been identified by the initials of GS, IWB, INR, IKSA, NKS, and IGPY.
Another suspect, identified as I Gede Basma, was the former head of the Social Service Department in Karangasem at the time of the mask purchase. Basma is now in charge of The Karangasem Public Library Division
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