Former Surabaya Zoo Director Becomes Suspect in Animal Feed Corruption Case

The East Java High Prosecutor's Office has named Choirul Anwar (CA), the former President Director of the Surabaya Zoo (PD TS KBS), a suspect in a corruption case involving the alleged misuse of company budget funds totaling approximately Rp10.2 billion during the period of 2016-2024. The Assistant Special Crimes Prosecutor (Aspidsus) of the East Java High Prosecutor's Office, I Gede Punia Atmaja, stated that the suspect designation was based on a Suspect Designation Order Number TAP-863/M.5/Fd.2/07/2026 dated July 21, 2026. "We have designated one suspect, namely the individual with the initials CA, as the President Director of the Regional Public Service Agency for the Surabaya Zoo (PD TS KBS)," Gede said at the East Java High Prosecutor's Office on Thursday (July 21) evening. Gede explained that CA served as the President Director of PD TS KBS from 2016 to 2024. During his tenure, he allegedly abused his authority by using company budget funds for expenditures that were not in line with their intended purpose and were fictitious, including for personal benefit. "CA, unlawfully or by abusing his authority, has used the budget funds of PD TS KBS for expenditures that are not in accordance with their purpose and/or are fictitious, as well as for the personal interests of CA," he stated. "This was done by ordering the finance staff in the Accounting and Finance Department to disburse budget funds and to create accountability for budget expenditures at PD TS KBS to make it appear as if the money was genuinely used for the company's operational activities," Gede added. Gede further added that from 2023 to 2024, the improper disbursement of company funds was also approved by MN, the Director of Finance. As a result of these actions, the state allegedly suffered financial losses of approximately Rp10.2 billion. This figure is still a preliminary calculation. "These actions have resulted in state financial losses, namely for PD TS KBS, of approximately Rp10,209,664,735.60. This is based on the results of the preliminary calculation with the BPKP of East Java Province," he said. In carrying out the alleged crime, CA reportedly employed a modus operandi of inflating the animal feed budget. Specifically, the amount of feed for the animals was reduced, while the accountability reports were fabricated to appear as if they were in order. "Because one of the modus operandi is about animal feed, yes. The feed is reduced, yes. Meaning the accountability is made to exist, but it is made with mark-ups," he said. Not only that, Gede stated that in these fraudulent practices, CA also concurrently held several strategic positions at PD TS KBS, namely President Director, Operational Director, and Finance Director, which allowed him to freely take funds and create fictitious accountability for the use of company money. "In addition to that, he held the positions of Operational Director and Finance Director. So, he held multiple positions. Well, automatically, the money was just taken, then executed, then the accountability was created, and it turned out to be as if it were true. But in reality, there were several expenditures in the accountability that were not correct," he said. Due to his actions, besides causing financial losses to the state, the alleged corruption by CA also impacted the condition of the Surabaya Zoo, which was not well-maintained, even leading to the deaths of its animals due to starvation. "Besides causing state financial losses, this has also led to the beloved Surabaya Zoo not developing because of its financial management, which resulted in the facilities not being well-maintained, being dirty, damaged, and the animals also being affected by poor health, becoming thin, tending to die, and not receiving proper care," he said. Of the total state loss of approximately Rp10.2 billion, Gede stated that around Rp7.4 billion was used by CA for personal benefit. However, regarding the use of these funds, he has not yet provided detailed specifics. "Yes, out of this Rp10.2 billion, around Rp7.4 billion was used for personal interests. We will convey that later, but we have already obtained the evidence, we have investigated, and that was also used for personal interests," he said. Gede mentioned that in the process of investigation and prosecution, the East Java High Prosecutor's Office has examined 22 witnesses. Now, his office is still investigating the alleged involvement of other parties in this case. Gede acknowledged that the investigation process for this case has taken quite a long time because it covers a nine-year period. "So, we started carrying out examinations in 2017 for 2024. This is from 2016 to 2024. So, for the time being, we will update it later," he said. For his actions, CA is charged under Article 603 (primary) and Article 604 (subsidiary) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, as amended by Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning the Adjustment of Criminal Penalties, in conjunction with Article 20 letters a and c, in conjunction with Article 126 paragraph (1) of 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. CA is currently detained at the Surabaya Class I Detention Center, a branch of the East Java High Prosecutor's Office, for 20 days, from July 21, 2026, to August 9, 2026. Meanwhile, CA's legal counsel, Edward Dewaruci, stated that his client respects the ongoing legal process and believes that the designation of his client as a suspect did not violate procedures. Edward stated that his side has not yet seen any formal defects in the suspect designation process, so a pre-trial motion is not currently a primary consideration. Source: CNN Indonesia