Police Detect Possible Drug Money Funding General Election Candidates

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The process related to the 2024 General Elections (Pemilu) has officially kicked off as the General Elections Commission (KPU) has received applicants who plan to run as legislatures from numerous political parties, and is now being verified. 

However, the National Police suspects that ‘dirty money’ exists in the political funding of candidates from a number of regions across Indonesia. This specifically refers to funds sourced from drug trafficking.

This was revealed by the police criminal investigation unit (Bareskrim) deputy of narcotic crimes Jayadi, who said there are indications suggesting such a scheme from the arrests made against a number of legislators. 

"From the arrests of legislative members in several regions, it is suspected that there will be the use of funds from illicit drug trafficking for the 2024 general election," Jayadi said on Wednesday, May 24.

The police unit announced that it plans to work in conjunction with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) once hard evidence of such illegal practices has been uncovered. 

“We will enforce the law if [the elicit practice] is proven to be true,” said the Police Bareskrim director of narcotics brigadier general Mukti Juharsa. 

Asked about law enforcement’s suspicion, a KPU representative that Tempo reached was not able to provide much information. 

“I cannot comment on it as that is still under the investigation of law enforcers,” said Idham from KPU on May 23. 

Currently, Idham said, KPU only handles reports on campaign funds and is finalizing the Draft KPU Regulation on campaign fund reporting which will be discussed in a joint hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday, May 29.

TIKA AYU | EKA YUDHA SAPUTRA

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