Aceh High Prosecutor's Office Detains Two Suspects in Irrigation Land Procurement Corruption Case
Banda Aceh (ANTARA) - Investigators from the Aceh High Prosecutor’s Office have detained two suspects in a case of alleged corruption related to land procurement for the Sigulai Irrigation project in Simeulue Barat District, Simeulue Regency, Aceh Province.
Ali Rasab Lubis, Head of Legal Information and Public Relations at the Aceh High Prosecutor’s Office, stated that the two suspects are S, the village head of Sigulai for the 2019-2025 period, and DS, a civil servant at the Aceh Regional Office of the National Land Agency.
“Both suspects are being held at the Class IIB Detention Centre in Banda Aceh. The detention is for the purpose of investigation for a period of 20 days, from 14 July to 2 August 2026,” Ali Rasab Lubis said in Banda Aceh on Wednesday.
He explained that the case originated from the procurement of 88.52 hectares of land for the construction of an irrigation system in Sigulai Village, with a budget ceiling of Rp39.9 billion in 2019.
Based on the investigation, alleged irregularities in the land procurement were discovered. Initial data indicated there were 26 plots of land, consisting of 25 community-owned plots and one village-owned plot.
“In its implementation, this changed to 77 plots of land, including a change in the status of the village land into 32 individually owned plots. This change was allegedly carried out through the issuance of statements of physical land control, or sporadik,” Ali said.
The issuance of the sporadik documents and other supporting documents did not comply with statutory provisions. These documents were used as the basis for the appraisal process, the determination of entitled parties, and the payment of compensation for the land procurement object.
“As a result of these actions, the compensation payment that should have been given for one plot of village land was instead paid to 32 individuals who were allegedly not entitled to receive compensation,” he stated.
Based on an expert’s calculation, Ali Rasab Lubis said the state losses resulting from the suspects’ actions reached more than Rp2.2 billion. Of that amount, Rp1.2 billion was used for public interest in Sigulai Village.
“Meanwhile, Rp974.9 million was received by 32 individuals. Of that amount, Rp301.3 million has been returned by the parties who were not entitled to receive the land compensation,” said Ali Rasab Lubis.
He stated that the suspects’ actions contravene Law Number 2 of 2012 concerning Land Procurement for Development in the Public Interest, Presidential Regulation Number 71 of 2012 and its amendments, as well as Minister of Home Affairs Regulation Number 1 of 2016 concerning Village Asset Management.
“The investigative team from the Aceh High Prosecutor’s Office is continuing to deepen the case. It is possible that other parties may also be held accountable in this land procurement case,” said Ali Rasab Lubis.