Task Force Official Arrested For Embezzling Covid Financial Assistance

An official from Tabanan Covid-19 Handling Task Force with the initials (INA) has been arrested for embezzling cash assistance given by a Social Foundation.

Thousands of dollars in cash assistance was supposedly being distributed to pandemic affected workers in Pujungan village but Pupuan Tabanan was being corrupted by INA. The public relations of Tabanan district attorney, Gede Hady confirmed that INA was arrested for abusing his authority as an official of the Covid-19 Handling Task Force.

Hady explained that the foundation began to feel suspicious when a local resident from Pujungan village came to them and asked for support to finance a motorbike as he planned to start a business with it. The team from the foundation then began their investigation by collecting information from the community. They discovered nobody in the community had received any support or assistance from the task force official in their area even though the money was being deposited into his private bank account.

“Apart from that, the foundation received another 11 reports from people with similar cases. After collecting information from the people and the foundation it appears INA had embezzled approximately USD 2,000 (IDR 30 million) for his personal interest.” Hady said. INA is now being detained with the Kediri Police Department and could face four years in prison.