Former Acting Regent and Head of Sitaro BPBD Named Suspects in Disaster Aid Corruption Case

The North Sulawesi High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Sulawesi Utara) has named former Acting Regent (Pj) of Sitaro, Joy Oroh, Sitaro Regional Secretary (Sekda), Denny Kondoj, as suspects in the alleged corruption case regarding disaster relief for the Mount Ruang eruption in Sitaro Islands Regency in 2024.

In addition, prosecutors have also named Sitaro BPBD Head, Joickson Sagune, and private individual, Denny Tondolambung, as suspects in the case. However, Joickson Sagune was not immediately detained due to health reasons.

“Out of the four suspects, three have been detained by the Special Criminal Investigators (Pidsus) of Kejati Sulut following intensive examinations. Meanwhile, the other suspect has not been detained as he is reported to be in poor health,” stated Assistant Special Prosecutor of Kejati Sulut, Zein Yusri Munggaran, on Wednesday (1/4).

The Mount Ruang eruption disaster occurred in April 2024, after which the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) allocated relief funds amounting to Rp35.715 billion.

“The aid was supposed to be distributed by Sitaro BPBD to residents whose homes were damaged by the eruption. However, the aid was not distributed until mid-2025,” he revealed.

Meanwhile, during Joy Oroh’s tenure as Acting Regent of Sitaro, he had approved the distribution of relief funds to residents affected by the eruption.

“But in fact, the relief funds only began to be distributed in July 2025,” he said.

Meanwhile, suspect Joickson Sagune had designated six shops for the procurement of goods, particularly building materials for repairing residents’ homes affected by the Mount Ruang eruption.

“Out of those six shops, only three were building materials shops. One of them was a shop owned by Denny Tondolambung, which is a grocery store, not a building materials shop. The others included a minimarket,” he explained.

Based on the results of examinations by Kejati Sulut auditors, a state financial loss of Rp22.775 billion was found.

“Denny is suspected of deliberately delaying the distribution process of materials, thereby causing a state loss of Rp22.775 billion,” he stated.

The three suspects immediately underwent detention at Malendeng Detention Centre after being named as suspects.

“The three suspects were immediately taken by investigators to Malendeng Detention Centre for further detention,” he said.