West Aceh reactivates two village heads after returning village funds of Rp659 million

Meulaboh (ANTARA) - The West Aceh Regency government has, since Thursday (7/5), reactivated two keuchik (village heads) who were previously suspended, after they completed the follow-up actions on the findings of the West Aceh Regency Inspectorate’s audit report amounting to more than Rp659 million.

“Because they have reactivated their responsibilities in accordance with the Inspectorate’s findings and have been declared complete, their positions as keuchik have been reactivated,” said the Deputy Regent of West Aceh, Said Fadheil, in Meulaboh on Thursday.

The two villages that have completed the repayment of the audited village funds include Desa/Gampong Krueng Tinggai in Samatiga Subdistrict, West Aceh Regency, amounting to more than Rp189 million, and Desa Buket Meugajah in Woyla Timur Subdistrict, West Aceh Regency, which has returned funds amounting to more than Rp470 million.

Said stated that the West Aceh Regency government is still awaiting good faith from five other village heads who have not yet fully completed the repayment of funds.

The West Aceh Regency Inspectorate has set a deadline until 30 June 2026 for these five village heads to settle the findings before further legal or administrative measures are taken.

Based on Inspectorate data, the total state losses from all audit report findings that have not yet been addressed initially amounted to more than Rp10 billion. As of Thursday (7/5), the recovered village funds from the findings have reached more than Rp4.1 billion.

“Thus, currently, more than Rp5.9 billion remains awaiting repayment by the village officials who have been temporarily suspended,” said Said.

The West Aceh Regency Inspector, Zakaria, told reporters that they have issued strong warnings to all keuchik, both those currently suspended and those still in office.

“In the use of village funds, we urge village officials to prioritise transparency towards the community and tuha peut. This is important so that when supervision is conducted, no more deviations are found in the gampongs (villages),” he said.

The West Aceh Regency government also expressed appreciation to the village heads/keuchik who have shown good faith in following recommendations and applicable laws and regulations.