Ngada District Prosecutor Names Three Suspects in Market Project Corruption Case
Investigators from the Special Crimes Division of the Ngada District Prosecutor’s Office have named three suspects in an alleged corruption case involving the construction of Lengkosambi Timur People’s Market in Riung sub-district, Ngada regency, East Nusa Tenggara, in the 2019 budget year. The contract value for the market’s construction work was around Rp 1.3 billion.
“The suspects were named after investigators obtained sufficient evidence from their investigation,” William Marcus Sebastian, head of the office’s Special Crimes Division, said in a written statement on Monday (12 October 2026).
The suspects are RM, the project contractor; PES, the planning and supervision consultant; and EC, the commitment-making official (PPK), who was head of the Trade Division at the Ngada Regency Cooperatives, SMEs and Trade Office in 2019. EC is now secretary of the Ngada Regency Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Office (DPMPTSP).
“Based on the investigation, the suspects’ actions caused state losses of Rp 427,765,004,” William said.
He said the three suspects had been detained at the Bajawa Class IIB Detention Centre for 20 days for investigation purposes, in accordance with the law.
William said the suspects had been charged under Articles 603 and 604 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, in conjunction with Article 18 of Law No. 31 of 1999 on Corruption Eradication, as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001, and Article 20(c) of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.
They face life imprisonment or a prison sentence of between two and 20 years. They also face a fine of at least Category II, or Rp 10 million, and at most Category VI, or Rp 2 billion.
William said the Ngada District Prosecutor’s Office would continue to develop the investigation based on the facts and evidence obtained. Any information or findings related to the case would be examined in accordance with applicable law.
“This includes any other parties found during the investigation to bear legal responsibility,” William said.
Previously, investigators from the prosecutor’s Special Crimes Division searched the Ngada Regency Cooperatives and SMEs Office and the Ngada Regency Regional Finance and Assets Agency (BKAD) on Friday (25 September 2026).
At the Cooperatives and SMEs Office, investigators seized 36 documents and items related to the case. At the BKAD office, they seized 16 documents.
Investigators have questioned 18 witnesses in connection with the case. They have also sought information and opinions from relevant specialists, including the East Nusa Tenggara representative office of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP), the National Public Procurement Agency (LKPP), and a construction expert from Kupang State Polytechnic.
Investigators have also examined the construction work on site. The examination found discrepancies in several parts of the construction, which are being further investigated.
Construction of Lengkosambi Timur People’s Market was funded through a Special Allocation Fund (DAK) from the Ministry of Trade for the 2019 budget year. The project had a budget ceiling of more than Rp 1.4 billion, while the construction contract was worth more than Rp 1.3 billion.
According to an audit report calculating state financial losses issued by the East Nusa Tenggara BPKP on 19 June 2026, the project’s alleged state losses amounted to more than Rp 427 million.