Rp12.1 Billion Road Project in Boven Digoel Allegedly Corrupted, One Suspect Fugitive

Jayapura, VIVA – The Papua High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Papua) has named two individuals as suspects in an alleged corruption case involving the construction of two road sections in Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua. The total budget for both projects amounts to Rp12.1 billion.

The two suspects are identified as RP, the Commitment Making Officer (PPK) for the Boven Digoel Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (Dinas PUPR) in 2023, and S, the contractor responsible for the works. However, the whereabouts of S remain unknown, and the Prosecutor’s Office has placed the individual on the most wanted list (DPO).

“Suspect S is currently on the most wanted list,” stated the Assistant Special Crimes Prosecutor of the Papua High Prosecutor’s Office, Jusak Ayomi, to Antara in Jayapura on Saturday (3/10/26).

The case pertains to the construction of the Dema-Fefero road section, which utilised the 2023 General Allocation Fund (DAU) amounting to Rp5,866,911,000. Additionally, investigators are looking into the construction of a road from Kombay District, specifically Wanggemalo Village, towards Firiwage District, Firiwage Village. This project, funded by the 2023 Special Autonomy (Otsus) fund, had a budget of Rp6,273,069,453.76.

Issues arose after it was discovered that 100% of the budget had been disbursed, yet the actual physical progress on the ground was minimal. “The funds for the construction of these road sections have been 100% disbursed, but field inspections conducted alongside a team of experts revealed that the construction of the Kombay District – Firiwage District road is only at 2.91%, while the Dema – Feferito road section is only at 10.36%,” said Jusak Ayomi.

The Papua High Prosecutor’s Office subsequently conducted an in-depth investigation, examining 42 witnesses across the two cases. From the investigation results, total state losses are estimated to reach Rp10,640,767,814.66. This loss comprises Rp4,585,197,082 from the Dema-Fefero road project and Rp6,055,570,732.66 from the Kombay-Firiwage road project.

Regarding the case, both suspects are charged with violating Article 603 of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP). “The applied charge is Article 603 of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the KUHP,” he added.