Former Surabaya Zoo Director Named Suspect in Animal Feed Corruption Case

The East Java High Prosecutor’s Office has named Choirul Anwar, the former president director of the Surabaya Zoo (PD TS KBS), as a suspect in a corruption case involving the misappropriation of company funds amounting to Rp10.2 billion during the 2016-2024 period. Assistant for Special Crimes at the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office, I Gede Punia Atmaja, stated that the suspect designation was based on a decree issued on 21 July 2026. During his tenure, Choirul Anwar allegedly abused his authority by using company budget funds for expenditures that were not in accordance with their intended purpose and were fictitious, including for personal gain. He reportedly ordered staff in the Accounting and Finance Department to disburse funds and create false accountability reports to make it appear as though the money was used for legitimate operational activities. In 2023 and 2024, these illicit expenditures were also approved by the Finance Director, MN. The resulting state financial loss is provisionally calculated at Rp10,209,664,735.60, based on a preliminary calculation with the East Java Financial and Development Supervisory Agency. One of the primary methods of corruption involved marking up the budget for animal feed, where the actual amount of feed provided was reduced while accountability reports were falsified to appear compliant. Furthermore, Choirul Anwar concurrently held multiple strategic positions, including President Director, Operational Director, and Finance Director, which allowed him to freely access funds and fabricate accountability reports. The corruption not only caused financial losses to the state but also severely impacted the zoo’s condition, leading to poorly maintained facilities and animals suffering from malnutrition, illness, and death. Of the total losses, approximately Rp7.4 billion was allegedly used for the suspect’s personal interests. The prosecutor’s office has examined 22 witnesses and is continuing to investigate the potential involvement of other parties. The investigation took considerable time as it covered a nine-year period. The suspect is charged under the anti-corruption law and has been detained at the Surabaya Class I Detention Centre for 20 days starting from 21 July 2026. His legal counsel stated that they respect the legal process and do not currently see any formal defects that would warrant a pre-trial motion.