Jaga Desa app successfully reduces legal cases against village heads, says Jamintel
The Junior Attorney General for Intelligence (Jamintel) at the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office, Reda Manthovani, has stated that use of the Jaga Desa application has successfully reduced the number of village heads entangled in legal cases in Indonesia. “Last year there were 525 village heads caught up in legal cases across Indonesia. Now, up to the second semester this year, thank God, it has been reduced to around 70 cases,” Reda said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday. He made the remarks during the inauguration and confirmation of the Regional Leadership Council (DPD) and Branch Leadership Council (DPC) of the National Association of Village Consultative Bodies (Abpednas) for North Maluku in Central Halmahera on Thursday.
Reda explained that the Jaga Desa application has been integrated with the village financial management system, allowing budget usage to be monitored transparently and accountably. Financial accountability reports prepared by village heads and village officials can also be verified by the Village Consultative Body (BPD) through the application. “The financial accountability of the village head or their officials can be monitored in the Jaga Desa application. Reports made by the village head or officials can be verified for accuracy by the BPD,” he said.
He assessed that the BPD has a strategic role as a partner of the Attorney General’s Office in overseeing village governance. Therefore, the presence of Abpednas is expected to strengthen the supervisory function down to the village level. Besides monitoring the use of village funds, he said, Abpednas can also help the community access various government programmes, including educational scholarships and economic empowerment assistance.
Reda added that the Attorney General’s Office is also encouraging the use of technology in overseeing the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG) through a QR Code-based system. Through this system, beneficiaries can submit reports regarding the quality of food received directly to the Attorney General’s Office or the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). “If it turns out the nutrition is lacking or the value does not match what the government has paid, then it can be reported and we can issue a warning,” said Reda.
The inauguration and confirmation of the DPD and DPC of Abpednas for North Maluku at the Central Halmahera Regent’s Office was also attended by the President’s Special Envoy for Youth Development, Raffi Ahmad, North Maluku Governor Sherly Tjoanda, regional heads, and local community figures. Currently, Abpednas has been established in 25 provinces and is expected to strengthen oversight, improve transparency in the use of village funds, and assist in the targeted distribution of various development and community empowerment programmes.