Aru Regent Questioned in Rp36.7 Billion Wokam Ring Road Corruption Case

The Regent of Aru Islands Regency, Maluku Province, Timotius Kaidel, underwent examination in the alleged corruption case involving the Wokam Island ring road worth Rp36.7 billion.

Observations by CNN Indonesia revealed that the PKB party cadre arrived at the Maluku High Prosecutor’s Office building on Jalan Sultan Hairun on Wednesday (1/4) around 09:00 WIT. He proceeded directly to the lobby area before being escorted to the examination room on the second floor.

Aru Regent Timotius Kaidel was summoned by the Pidsus investigators of the Maluku High Prosecutor’s Office to provide information regarding the 35-kilometre ring road connecting five villages: Tungguwatu Village, Goral Village, Lau-lau Village, Kobraur Village, and Nafar Village, in the Aru Islands Sub-district.

At that time, Timotius Kaidel had been a contractor with PT Purna Dharma Perdana. He participated in the tender for the Wokam Island ring road project worth Rp36.7 billion in 2018 during the administration of Aru Islands Regent Johan Gonga.

After winning the tender, he began work on the 35-kilometre road but only completed about 15 kilometres, leaving the remaining 20 kilometres unfinished.

The work involving embankment materials for the road was also substandard. The embankment materials transported should have complied with the project documents, such as selected fill, but instead, landslide materials were used. Moreover, the drainage construction was not built.

Currently, the ring road, with a width of about 8 metres and funded by billions in budget allocations, remains unused by residents of the five villages. In fact, the road has become overgrown with large trees, making it difficult for locals to access.

The actions of Aru Islands Regent Timotius Kaidel, which do not support President Prabowo Subianto’s government programme, have caused a state loss of Rp11.3 billion, following an audit by the BPK RI in 2018.

The case began proceedings at the Maluku High Prosecutor’s Office after the Aru Anti-Corruption People’s Alliance reported Aru Islands Regent Timotius Kaidel in October 2025.

Colin, Secretary of the Aru Anti-Corruption People’s Alliance, hopes that the Maluku High Prosecutor’s Office will promptly designate Aru Regent Timotius Kaidel as a suspect. He stated that Timotius does not support President Prabowo Subianto’s programme related to completing roads for the prosperity of poor communities, especially those in the outermost islands of Maluku.

“We hope that the individual is designated as a suspect and detained; if necessary, detained and designated as a suspect. This is the hope of the entire Aru community, especially the residents of the five villages that remain far behind,” he said at the Maluku High Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday (1/4).

He added that residents are concerned that Timotius Kaidel, who is still in power as the active regent, could manoeuvre to escape the case.

“We are only worried that with the existing power and authority, it could fulfil the elements under the Criminal Code where the individual might destroy evidence, repeat the same actions, or various other things,” he explained.

“This is what we are concerned about, in line with the Criminal Code elements, if someone is not detained, it is feared, and we do not want that to happen,” he continued.

Residents, he said, place great hope in the Maluku High Prosecutor’s Office, particularly the Pidsus investigators who are examining the top official in the pearl-producing region. He stated that the case could be thoroughly uncovered, bringing justice to the Aru community.

“The community’s hope is that the case is brought to light and the intellectual actors and perpetrators are detained,” he concluded.

Ardi, Head of Legal Information at the Maluku High Prosecutor’s Office, stated that they had sent summons letters to three individuals: Aru Regent Timotius Kaidel, Treasurer with initials JMK, and the Deputy Head of Finance at the Public Works Department. They were aware of the flow of funds for the Wokam ring road worth Rp36.7 billion.

Meanwhile, officials already examined include the Commitment Making Official (PPK), Technical Activity Implementing Official (PPTK), members of the Working Group (Pokja), Expenditure Treasurer, Planning and Supervision Consultant, and several Public Works Department staff up to village-level officials.

Initial Evasion

Initially, Aru Islands Regent Timotius Kaidel evaded the summons from the Pidsus investigators of the Maluku High Prosecutor’s Office. He was supposed to be examined on Monday (30/3) but chose to attend a PKB Maluku event in Ambon.

On Tuesday (31/3) evening, Aru Islands Regent Timotius Kaidel refused to comment on evading the summons in the Wokam Island ring road development project corruption case worth Rp36.7 billion.

“I have no comment, no comment,” he said when met by journalists at a hotel in Ambon City on Tuesday (31/3).

Timotius appeared panicked. He then searched for the lift button while pressing it with his room key card. He tried pressing the button several times, but the lift door did not close.

Several local and national journalists were waiting in front of the lift door, but the individual, who seemed in a hurry, entered the crowded lift.

Timotius had just attended the inauguration of the Maluku PKB Provincial Board, officiated by PKB Deputy Chairman Jazilul Fawaid.