Former Surabaya Zoo Director Named Suspect in Animal Feed Budget Corruption, Animals Became Malnourished
The East Java High Prosecutor’s Office has named the former president director of the Surabaya Zoo Municipal Enterprise (PD KBS), identified by the initials CA, as a suspect in an alleged financial mismanagement corruption case. CA is accused of embezzling funds allocated for animal feed at KBS, resulting in the animals suffering from malnutrition and poor care.
‘The Special Criminal Investigation Team of the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office has named one suspect, namely CA, as the (former) President Director of the Surabaya Zoo Municipal Enterprise,’ said the Assistant for Special Crimes at the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office, I Gede Punia Atmaja, in Surabaya, East Java, on Tuesday (21/7/2026).
The case occurred during the 2013–2024 period, causing state losses of approximately Rp10.2 billion. The suspect designation was made based on Suspect Designation Order Number KEP-863/M.5/Fd.2/07/2026 dated 21 July 2026.
He explained that based on the investigation results, CA, who served as President Director of PD KBS from 2016 to 2024, allegedly abused his authority by using company funds for expenditures that were not in accordance with their intended purpose, were fictitious, and were suspected to have been used for personal gain.
According to investigators, suspect CA instructed the Head of the Accounting and Finance Department, identified by the initials STN, to disburse company funds and simultaneously create accountability documents to make it appear as though the funds were used for operational needs. Specifically for the 2023–2024 period, the allegedly illegitimate cash disbursements were also said to have received approval from the Finance Director of PD KBS, identified by the initials MN.
Based on a preliminary calculation by the East Java Representative Office of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP), these actions caused financial losses to the state or PD KBS of approximately Rp10.2 billion. In addition to causing state losses, the alleged budget irregularities were also said to have impacted the operational condition of the Surabaya Zoo, ranging from poorly maintained facilities to animals that were deemed not to have received optimal care.
In this case, the suspect is charged under Article 603 in conjunction with Article 604 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, in conjunction with the provisions of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001. Investigators have also detained CA for 20 days, starting from 21 July to 9 August 2026, at the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office Detention Centre Branch for further investigation purposes.