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| Police in Brebes arrested a former village head after two years on the run over alleged corruption involving 547 million rupiah in village funds. |
Former Brebes Village Head Arrested After Two Years on the Run
BREBES, Indonesia - Police in Brebes, Central Java, have arrested a former village head who had been on the run for two years over allegations of corruption involving village funds worth 547 million rupiah, authorities said on Wednesday.
Saefudin, the suspended head of Kebonagung village in Jatibarang district, was detained following an investigation into the misuse of village funds and the alleged embezzlement of a government-owned emergency vehicle.
Brebes Police Chief AKBP Lilik Ardhiansyah said the case emerged after an audit by the Brebes Inspectorate found state losses linked to village funds and village fund allocations from 2022 to 2024.
“On March 3, 2024, the Inspectorate audit identified state losses amounting to 547 million rupiah. Based on these findings, an investigation was launched and the suspect was charged with embezzlement and abuse of village funds,” Lilik said.
Police also said Saefudin had pawned a village-owned emergency response vehicle valued at around 47 million rupiah to an individual in neighbouring Tegal regency.
The suspect was arrested at a hideout in Banyumas regency and has since been transferred to Brebes Class II B prison for detention pending trial. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to 1 billion rupiah under Indonesia’s anti-corruption laws.
Saefudin’s legal counsel, Budi Prabowo, said part of the misappropriated funds had allegedly been used for a money-multiplication ritual through a foundation in Banyumas.
“My client deposited funds with the expectation that the money would multiply. The village emergency vehicle was also pawned for the same purpose,” he said.