Former NTB Tourism Chief's Questioning in Motocross Corruption Case Postponed

Investigators from the Special Crimes Unit at the West Nusa Tenggara High Prosecutor’s Office failed to conduct an additional questioning session for former NTB Tourism Office Head, Jamaluddin Malady. The examination regarding alleged corruption in the 2023 Lombok Sumbawa Motocross Competition was cancelled because he was not accompanied by his legal counsel.

“Mr Jamal’s questioning did not proceed because his lawyer was not present,” said NTB High Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson, Muhammad Harun Al Rasyid, on Thursday. Jamal was scheduled for questioning today. Harun stated the examination requires the presence of a lawyer even though the individual is still a witness. “Now it is mandatory for a witness to be accompanied by a lawyer. A witness must have a lawyer,” Harun added.

Harun confirmed that investigators will reschedule the questioning for Jamal, who currently serves as Head of the Government Bureau at the NTB Regional Secretariat. However, Harun did not detail the new schedule. “The examination will be rescheduled in the near future,” he said briefly.

Jamal has been questioned by investigators several times regarding the alleged corruption in the 2023 Lombok Sumbawa Motocross Competition. He was last examined on Monday. Besides Jamal, several other former officials within the NTB Provincial Government have also been questioned. These include former NTB Inspectorate Head Ibnu Salim, former NTB Regional Financial and Asset Management Agency Head Samsul Rizal, and former NTB Regional Secretary Lalu Gita Ariadi.

The motocross racing event was held at the Tohpati Sayang-Sayang Circuit in Mataram City, with a total budget reaching Rp24 billion. The funds originated from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy during the tenure of Acting Governor Lalu Gita Ariadi. The event was organised directly by the NTB Tourism Office. However, indications of budget misuse were discovered. Findings revealed overpayments to service providers and tax underpayments totalling Rp2.6 billion. The breakdown includes Rp1.2 billion in payments to partners, Rp404 million in tax underpayments, Rp601 million in discrepancies from the Indonesian Motor Association, and Rp356 million in tax shortfalls from IMI NTB. An excess in official travel budget of Rp6.2 million was also found.