Kupastuntas.co, Bandar Lampung - The Lampung High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) found an alleged mark-up (inflating) of the official travel budget of the Tanggamus Regional Representatives Council (DPRD) for the 2021 fiscal year which reached IDR 7.7 billion.

The Lampung Attorney General's Office for Special Crimes (Aspidsus), Hutamrin, said the findings of official travel mark-ups for the leaders and members of the Tanggamus DPRD had entered investigation, having previously been under investigation status since January 2023.

"We have upgraded this case from investigation to general investigation, and have exposed it to the Attorney General's Office (Kejagung)," said Hutamrin during the expose at the Lampung Prosecutor's office, Wednesday (12/7/23).

Hutamrin revealed, the marked up official travel expenses came from the 2021 budget year which was realized in the amount of IDR 12 billion.

"This part is included in the lodging cost component of the official travel budget for meeting packages within and outside the city of the DPRD Secretariat of Tanggamus Regency," he explained. The package consists of fees at two hotels in Bandar Lampung City, two hotels in Jakarta and seven hotels in South Sumatra, and 12 hotels in West Java.

Hutamrin explained that there were three mark-up modes carried out by the leaders and members of the Tanggamus DPRD. First, inflating the cost of hotel rooms in areas that already have bills attached to the SPJ (official travel letter).

"The price is higher than the price of the actual room in the hotel," he said. Second, fictitious hotel bills on SPJ guest names attached because they never stayed based on data on each hotel's computer.

"And third, a member of the Tanggamus Regency DPRD stays with the names of two people in one room. In this third mode, one person is made at SPJ each. The mark up was assisted by travel on the orders of board members," he explained.

He explained, there were 4 suspected travel in this case namely Travel W, Travel SWI, Travel A, and Travel AT.

Hutamrin explained, the current state potential loss is IDR 7 billion. But he continued, in real terms it will be calculated through an audit to find out what the actual value is.

Asked about the suspect in this case, Hutamrin said he was still conducting an investigation by examining a number of parties.

The secretary of the Tanggamus DPRD, Sabaruddin, did not answer the call when called. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Tanggamus DPRD, Heri Agus Setiawan, said he respected the legal process currently being carried out by the Lampung Attorney General's Office.

"Yes, we comply. As citizens, we must obey the law. So we will also follow the process at the Attorney General's Office," he said.

Meanwhile, Head of Penkum Penkum Attorney Lampung, I Made Agus Putra via WhatsApp messages on the Lampung Attorney's Media Group asked journalists to withdraw the news regarding the alleged markup of the official travel budget of the Tanggamus DPRD.

"Please ask permission from media colleagues at the order of the leadership regarding the press conference this afternoon regarding the Tanggamus DPRD secretariat, don't raise the news yet because it is related to regional conduciveness. I ask for the willingness of colleagues who have published the news to be withdrawn, for your cooperation I thank you. Please cooperate, media colleagues," wrote Head of Penkum Kejati Lampung, I Made Agus Putra, in WA Group Kejati Lampung, Wednesday (12/7). (*)

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