NTB High Prosecutor's Office Investigates Dompu Prosecutors Over Obstruction of Search
The Special Crimes team of the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) High Prosecutor’s Office has interrogated officials from the Dompu District Prosecutor’s Office regarding the alleged obstruction of a search at the Tekasire Village Office by local residents.
Danny Curia Novitawan, Head of the Intelligence Section at the Dompu District Prosecutor’s Office, stated via telephone on Wednesday that the investigation was conducted by the NTB High Prosecutor’s Office Special Crimes team after residents blocked officers during the search operation.
“Regarding the obstruction during our search of the Tekasire Village Office, the Special Crimes team from the NTB High Prosecutor’s Office came to our office to seek clarification. The activity has just concluded,” said Danny.
He noted that the initial examination was led directly by the Assistant for Special Crimes of the NTB High Prosecutor’s Office, Zulkifli Said. It remains uncertain whether further examinations of residents or village officials will follow.
Danny explained that the request for clarification is a follow-up to a report by the Dompu District Prosecutor’s Office concerning the results of the search at the Tekasire Village Office. The search was part of an investigation into alleged corruption involving land procurement for a football field in Tekasire Village, which took place on Thursday (13/8).
The handling of the alleged obstruction is being managed by the Special Crimes Division of the NTB High Prosecutor’s Office, based on an investigation order regarding potential violations of Article 21 of Law No. 20 of 2001, which concerns the obstruction of investigations under the Anti-Corruption Law.
“Article 21 pertains to the obstruction of investigations within the Anti-Corruption Law. This is why the handling is being managed directly under the Special Crimes Division of the NTB High Prosecutor’s Office,” he added.
During the previous search, the Dompu District Prosecutor’s Office team was accompanied by TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) personnel to ensure security at the village office. As the search concluded and officers attempted to exit with plastic boxes containing documents, residents gathered and blocked their path.
Danny reported that several residents seized the plastic boxes and took documents in front of the officers, with some documents reportedly damaged or torn. Several prosecutors involved in the search were also targeted by the crowd; according to Danny, some prosecutors were struck and spat upon by the residents.
Despite the incident, Danny confirmed that some documents from the search were successfully secured by the officers. “Some photocopied documents are in the boxes. As for the originals, they were present previously, but after the incident, they were no longer in the boxes,” he concluded.