MEDAN, Indonesia, kedannews.co.id – Prosecutors in North Sumatra have detained three former heads of the Kantor Syahbandar dan Otoritas Pelabuhan (KSOP) Utama Belawan over alleged corruption involving non-tax state revenue (PNBP) from port and navigation services during the 2023–2024 fiscal period.
The suspects, identified by their initials WH, SHS, and MLA, are being held at Class I Medan Detention Center for an initial 20-day period as investigators continue to build the case.
According to Rizaldi, Head of Legal Information at the Kejaksaan Tinggi Sumatera Utara, the detention followed the collection of sufficient preliminary evidence.
“Starting today, the three suspects are detained at the Class I Medan detention facility for 20 days for investigative purposes,” Rizaldi told reporters in Medan on Tuesday (February 24, 2026).
He added that prosecutors are urging all relevant parties to cooperate with the ongoing legal process. “Our investigative team is working to complete the probe. Should we discover the involvement of other parties, firm action will be taken in accordance with prevailing laws,” he said.
Arif Kadarman, Head of Special Crimes Investigation at the same provincial prosecutor’s office, stated that the suspects were formally named after investigators secured at least two legally admissible pieces of evidence, as required under Indonesian criminal procedure.
The case centers on alleged irregularities in the management of pilotage and tugboat service fees—mandatory maritime services for certain classes of vessels entering Indonesian waters. Under national port regulations, these services are overseen by port authorities. In the Belawan port area, operational authority has been delegated to PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) Regional 1 Belawan.
Investigators say that based on Sailing Approval Letters (Surat Persetujuan Berlayar) issued between 2023 and 2024, several vessels above 500 Gross Tonnage (GT)—which are required to use pilotage services—entered compulsory pilotage waters. However, those vessels were allegedly not recorded in reconciliation reports prepared and signed by the suspects.
The alleged discrepancy is believed to have resulted in significant losses to the Indonesian state from non-tax revenue streams. While the exact amount has not yet been finalized, prosecutors estimate the potential loss to be worth billions of Indonesian rupiah—equivalent to hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars. Authorities are coordinating with relevant auditing institutions to calculate the precise financial impact.
The three former officials are charged under Article 2(1) and subsidiary Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Indonesia’s Anti-Corruption Law (Law No. 20/2001), as well as Articles 603 and 604 in conjunction with Article 20 of Law No. 1/2023 on the Criminal Code.
Belawan Port, located in North Sumatra, serves as a strategic maritime gateway for western Indonesia and handles both domestic and international shipping traffic. The investigation highlights the Indonesian government’s continued scrutiny of revenue management within state-controlled port operations.
Prosecutors emphasized that the legal process remains ongoing and that all suspects are presumed innocent until a final court verdict is issued.