Case Details: Temporary Teacher Charged with Concurrent Position as Village Assistant Counsellor

The East Java High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Jatim) has clarified the details of the case involving Muhammad Misbahul Huda (MMH), a temporary teacher at SDN Brabe 1 in Probolinggo, East Java, who was charged with holding a concurrent position and receiving dual salaries as a Local Village Assistant Counsellor (Pendamping Lokal Desa or PLD).

Wagiyo, Assistant for Special Criminal Offences at the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office, explained that the matter began when Misbahul registered as a Local Village Assistant Counsellor in 2019. The programme itself had been open since 2017.

“From around 2017 to 2025, there was a programme for professional village assistance workers or local village counsellors. Candidates were given the opportunity to apply, and the suspect registered,” Wagiyo stated during a press conference at Kejati Jatim on Wednesday, 25 February.

Wagiyo noted that one of the requirements for registration was that candidates could not already be employed and receiving salary from regional or local budget sources (APBD).

“One of the conditions for applying as a local village counsellor was that the person could not be bound to or employed in another institution whose salary or allowance was sourced from the national, regional, or village budget (APBN, APBD, or APBDes). This was prohibited, and the suspect was aware of this. Yet he applied anyway,” he said.

During the selection and evaluation process, several candidates withdrew. However, Misbahul continued and forged numerous documents, including the school principal’s signature, the village head’s seal, and a declaration stating he was not a permanent teacher.

“After registering and undergoing evaluation, the suspect did not withdraw. Instead, he created and forged documents. The forgeries included the school principal’s signature, which the suspect himself falsified along with the village head’s seal, falsely stating that he was no longer a non-permanent teacher at SDN Brabe 1,” Wagiyo explained.

Armed with these forged documents, Misbahul was approved and appointed to the position. His employment became concurrent, and he received dual salaries—approximately IDR1.2 to 1.3 million monthly as a temporary teacher and IDR2.3 million monthly as a local village counsellor.

“A declaration was also forged stating that he was no longer employed as a temporary teacher,” Wagiyo added.

During his dual employment from 2019 to 2025, Misbahul unlawfully obtained a total of IDR118,861,000, causing financial loss to the state. The case came to public attention after a citizen reported it to the Probolinggo District Prosecutor’s Office, which initiated an investigation and designated Misbahul as a suspect. The case subsequently went viral and attracted significant public attention.

“The case underwent investigation and detention by investigators and became viral as it was seen to undermine public confidence in justice,” Wagiyo said.

The East Java High Prosecutor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office evaluated the case handling, providing assistance and mentoring to investigators from the Probolinggo District Prosecutor’s Office. Subsequently, the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office took over the case.

“We took over the case considering its escalation in the media. Today, the High Prosecutor’s Office has assumed control, and a case review was conducted here under the direct supervision of the Head of the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office,” he explained.

Following the case review and evaluation conducted by the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office together with the Probolinggo District Prosecutor’s Office in Surabaya, it was determined that the suspect’s actions legally satisfied the elements of the criminal offence.

“The evaluation confirmed that the suspect’s actions involved forging documents and receiving dual salaries. The investigation results conducted by the Probolinggo District Prosecutor’s Office were accurate and in line with standard investigation procedures. The suspect was accordingly designated,” Wagiyo stated.

However, given the public attention the case received, the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office announced the discontinuation of charges.

“The Head of the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office has ordered the case closed. The Head then instructed the Probolinggo District Prosecutor to cease prosecution in the interests of law and justice,” Wagiyo concluded.

Wagiyo outlined three considerations for discontinuing the case. First, the suspect had made full restitution of the state’s financial losses. Second, the decision was motivated by considerations of justice. Third, the offence was committed solely to meet the suspect’s living expenses.

“The suspect has acknowledged his wrongdoing and expressed genuine remorse for forging school documents. However, these actions were not motivated by intent for personal enrichment. He acted solely to meet his livelihood needs. This was the Head’s consideration,” Wagiyo explained.

Furthermore, Misbahul, who had previously been designated a suspect and detained, was released following a request for suspension of detention on Friday, 20 February.

“The suspect’s detention was suspended on Friday of last week,” Wagiyo stated.

Additionally, on Monday, 23 February, Misbahul repaid the state’s financial losses resulting from his concurrent employment over approximately five years, totalling IDR118,861,000.

“On Monday, the suspect repaid the full amount of losses incurred, approximately IDR118,861,000,” he said.

The discontinuation of the case has been formally processed by the Head of the Prosecutor’s Office.