NTB High Prosecutor's Office Considers Dropping Investigation into GNE Capital Injection

Mataram (ANTARA) - The West Nusa/Tenggara High Prosecutor’s Office has opened the possibility of terminating the investigation into alleged corruption concerning the NTB Provincial Government’s capital injection into PT Gerbang NTB Emas (GNE) for the 2019–2024 period.

Assistant for Special Crimes at the NTB High Prosecutor’s Office, Muh. Zulkifli Said, stated in Mataram on Friday that the office has encountered obstacles in advancing the case to the investigation stage.

“Therefore, it is possible that it will be discontinued,” he said.

Zulkifli explained that the obstacle relates to the tracing of state financial losses, which so far has not shown potential for criminal offences in the management of the capital injection funds, according to findings from coordination with the BPKP (Financial and Development Supervisory Agency).

He noted that the prosecutor’s office does not wish to be reckless in advancing the case to the investigation stage before obtaining sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations of corruption. “It would be quite problematic if it is not proven (in court),” he added.

Nevertheless, Zulkifli stated that the prosecutor’s office remains open to further action should new evidence emerge that strengthens the allegations of corruption in the management of the capital injection funds.

He emphasised that the case regarding the NTB Provincial Government’s capital injection into PT GNE remains in the investigation stage. In handling the matter, the prosecutor’s office has collected data and statements from several parties involved in the management of the capital injection.

The prosecutor’s office has, among other things, traced the management of PT GNE’s assets, including land certificates and company office buildings that were used as collateral for bank loans.

PT GNE previously explained that the remaining debt from the guarantee of these assets originated from the management period of Samsul Hadi as director during 2019–2024 and is being recovered gradually.

In addition to the capital injection case, the NTB High Prosecutor’s Office is handling a separate matter regarding the cooperation between PT GNE and PT Berkah Air Laut (BAL). The NTB High Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the case involving the cooperation between PT GNE and PT BAL is currently at the investigation stage and is awaiting audit results.