Former Surabaya Zoo Director Arrested for Alleged Embezzlement of Rp 10.2 Billion

The East Java High Prosecutor's Office has named Choirul Anwar (CA), the former Director General of the Surabaya Public Company of Zoological Parks (PD TS KBS), as a suspect in a corruption case involving the zoo's finances from 2016 to 2024. The estimated state financial loss in this case amounts to approximately Rp 10.2 billion. Following his designation as a suspect, CA was immediately detained at the Surabaya Class I Detention Center, a branch of the East Java High Prosecutor's Office, for 20 days for investigative purposes. I Gede Punia, Assistant for Special Crimes at the East Java High Prosecutor's Office, explained that during his tenure as Director General of PD TS KBS from 2016 to 2024, CA allegedly abused his authority by using company budgets for various expenditures that were not in line with their intended purpose, fictitious expenses, and personal gain. "Tonight, we have named one suspect, identified by the initials CA, as the Director General of the Surabaya Public Company of Zoological Parks," said I Gede Punia on Tuesday night (July 21, 2026). CA is suspected of ordering staff in the Accounting and Finance Department to disburse company funds and then create accountability reports as if the budget had been used for KBS operational needs. "CA, unlawfully or by abusing his authority, has used the funds from PD TS KBS budgets for expenditures that are not in accordance with their intended purpose and/or are fictitious, as well as for personal interests," he stated. Investigators also found instances of incorrect cash expenditures throughout 2023 and 2024. These expenditures reportedly received approval from relevant parties, including the then-Director of Finance. Based on preliminary calculations conducted with the Financial and Development Supervisory Board (BPKP) of East Java Province, the alleged irregularities have resulted in state financial losses of Rp 10,209,664,735.60. "The state financial loss, based on the preliminary calculation with BPKP East Java Province, is approximately Rp 10.2 billion," Punia said. Of the total loss, approximately Rp 7.4 billion is alleged to have been used by the suspect for personal interests. "Of this approximately Rp 10 billion, around Rp 7.4 billion was used for personal interests," he revealed. The East Java High Prosecutor's Office assesses that the misuse of the budget not only results in state financial losses but also affects the condition of Surabaya Zoo. Funds that should have been allocated for operations, especially for purchasing animal feed and their care, were allegedly not used as intended. As a result, several zoo facilities are said to have declined in quality, while the condition of the animals has also been impacted due to suboptimal care. "Besides harming state finances, this has led to the Surabaya Zoo attractions not developing. Facilities are not well-maintained, are dirty, damaged, and the animals are also affected by being unhealthy, thin, prone to death, and lacking proper care. One of the modus operandi is related to animal feed," explained Punia. He emphasized that the budget that was allegedly misappropriated should have been prioritized to support the zoo's operations, including meeting the needs for animal feed. "For animal care, one of which is food, animal feed," he said. Investigators also found a reduction in the realization of the feed budget that did not align with the accountability reports. "The fact is that it was reduced. Meaning, there was accountability, but it was not made truthfully," he said. For the alleged offense, CA is charged under Article 603 or subsidiarily Article 604 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001. "Currently, the suspect has been immediately detained at the Surabaya Class I Detention Center, a branch of the East Java High Prosecutor's Office, for the next 20 days for further examination," Punia concluded. Reporter: Erwin Yohanes/merdeka.com