Indonesia probes alleged corruptioninlandpurchaseforMXGPcircuit

Jumat, 9 Januari 2026 07:34 WIB

Prosecutors escort Muhammad Julkarnaen (center), a suspect in a corruption case involving the procurement of 70 hectares of land in the Samota area of Sumbawa Island for the MXGP Circuit, to a detention vehicle at the West Nusa Tenggara High Prosecutor’s Office building in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Thursday (1/8/2026). /ANTARA FOTO/Dhimas Budi Pratama/sgd/foc.

Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s prosecutors are investigating suspected corruption in the Rp52 billion (approximately $3,1million) purchase of land for the Motocross Grand Prix (MXGP) circuit in Samota, Sumbawa, after state losses of Rp6.7 billion, approximately $400,000, were uncovered.

The West Nusa Tenggara High Prosecutor’s Office has uncovered state losses equivalent to $400,000, linked to inflated land prices for the circuit, and has named two suspects in the corruption probe.

Muh. Zulkifli Said, Assistant for Special Crimes at the West Nusa Tenggara Prosecutor’s Office, confirmed the findings during a press conference in Mataram on Thursday.

Investigators allege that the financial damage was caused by a deliberate mark-up in the land's valuation between 2022 and 2023.

The investigation revealed that an initial appraisal by the Public Appraisal Office (KJPP) valued the 70-hectare site at Rp44.8 billion, approximately $2,68 million.

However, a second assessment allegedly manipulated the figure to Rp52 billion.

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An audit by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) confirmed that the difference represents a direct loss to the state.

Two individuals have been named as suspects, Subhan, Head of the Central Lombok Land Office, who acted as chair of the land procurement committee while serving as Head of the Sumbawa Land Office; and Muhammad Julkarnaen, a private sector appraiser from KJPP.

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Both suspects have been charged under Indonesia’s new Criminal Code (KUHP), specifically Articles 603 and/or 604 in conjunction with Article 20(c) of Law No. 1 of 2023 on corruption-related offenses.

As part of the investigation, prosecutors have questioned at least 40 witnesses, including former East Lombok District Head Moh. Ali Bin Dachlan, who owned and sold the land to the Sumbawa District Government for Rp52 billion.

The Samota circuit was built to host the MXGP, a premier international motocross championship.