Jakarta, ThedailyID — Prosecutors in East Java have named the former president director of Surabaya Zoo as a suspect in an alleged Rp10.2 billion corruption case involving operational and animal care funds.
The East Java High Prosecutor’s Office announced on July 23 that former zoo chief Choirul Anwar allegedly misused funds allocated for animal feed and facility maintenance between 2016 and 2024.
Prosecutors said the alleged corruption not only caused financial losses to the state but also harmed the zoo’s animals and infrastructure.
According to investigators, the budget cuts reduced the supply of fresh animal feed and limited maintenance work across the zoo.
As a result, several animals reportedly suffered from malnutrition, became severely underweight, and some died.
Officials also said animal enclosures fell into disrepair because maintenance funds never reached their intended purpose.
Investigators allege that Anwar instructed finance staff to release company funds for fictitious activities, unauthorized spending, and personal use.
They also accused him of creating false financial reports to conceal the alleged misuse of public funds.
An audit conducted with the East Java office of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) estimated total state losses at Rp10.21 billion.
Investigators believe about Rp7.4 billion of that amount went directly to the suspect.
Prosecutors have charged Anwar under Indonesia’s anti-corruption laws and the revised Criminal Code.
Authorities placed him in detention for 20 days while investigators continue the case.
