Socio Today
The East Java High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Jatim) has officially named Choirul Anwar, the former President Director of the Surabaya Zoo (Kebun Binatang Surabaya or KBS), as a suspect in a long-running corruption case involving the embezzlement of animal feed and operational funds. The investigation, which spans nearly a decade of financial mismanagement, has revealed a systematic misappropriation of funds totaling approximately IDR 10.2 billion between 2016 and 2024. Authorities allege that a significant portion of this money, estimated at IDR 7.4 billion, was diverted for the suspect’s personal gain and lifestyle expenses.
The announcement was made by the Assistant for Special Crimes (Aspidsus) at the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office, I Gede Punia, following a series of intensive interrogations and the collection of preliminary evidence. According to Punia, the suspect, identified by the initials CA, was taken into custody after investigators found sufficient grounds to believe that the zoo’s operational budget—specifically funds earmarked for the nutritional needs and medical care of the animals—had been intentionally siphoned off through fraudulent accounting practices.
The Mechanics of the Fraud and Personal Enrichment
The core of the corruption scheme involved the manipulation of financial accountability reports. As the head of the municipally owned enterprise (BUMD), Choirul Anwar was responsible for overseeing the procurement of feed for thousands of animals, ranging from large carnivores like Sumatran tigers to protected species like the Komodo dragon. However, investigators found a stark discrepancy between the amount of money officially disbursed for animal feed and the actual quality and quantity of food provided to the zoo’s inhabitants.
"The funds were supposed to be used for animal care, specifically for feed. However, the reality is that these allocations were significantly reduced," Punia stated during a press conference at the Kejati Jatim building. "While the administrative accountability reports existed, they were not prepared accurately or truthfully. They were essentially fabricated to cover up the missing funds."
Of the IDR 10.2 billion identified as missing, investigators have tracked approximately IDR 7.4 billion directly to the suspect’s personal use. While the specific details of the "extravagant lifestyle" or "foya-foya" mentioned by authorities have not been fully disclosed to the public, the prosecution confirmed that the evidence points toward the funds being used to finance the suspect’s private interests rather than any institutional needs. This diversion of funds occurred during a period when the Surabaya Zoo was frequently under the spotlight for its aging infrastructure and the health of its animal population.
A Decadelong Investigation and the Timeline of Misconduct
The investigation into the financial health of the Surabaya Zoo has been a protracted process. While the current charges focus on the period between 2016 and 2024, I Gede Punia revealed that the prosecutor’s office had been monitoring the institution’s financial activities as far back as 2013. The decision to narrow the scope to the 2016–2024 window was based on the density of the evidence and the clarity of the audit trail during those years.
To build the case, the Kejati Jatim team examined at least 20 witnesses, including zoo employees, vendors, and government officials responsible for the oversight of regional enterprises. The investigation also looked into the role of other high-ranking officials within the zoo’s management. Punia emphasized that corruption of this scale is rarely the work of a single individual.
"We are continuing to deepen our investigation based on the evidence we have gathered. In cases of corruption, it is highly unlikely that only one person is involved. We are looking at the possibility of other suspects," Punia added. This statement aligns with earlier findings suggesting that the zoo’s Finance Director during the 2023–2024 period may have also played a role in authorizing unauthorized cash outflows.
The Historical Context of Surabaya Zoo (KBS)
The Surabaya Zoo, or Perusahaan Daerah Taman Satwa (PDTS) KBS, is one of the oldest and largest zoos in Southeast Asia. Established over a century ago during the Dutch colonial era, it has long been a landmark of East Java. However, the zoo has also been a lightning rod for controversy. In the early 2010s, it gained international notoriety, dubbed the "Zoo of Death" by various global media outlets due to high mortality rates among its animals and reports of severe neglect.
Following a government takeover and the installation of new management—intended to modernize the facility and improve welfare standards—there was hope that the zoo’s dark chapter had ended. The appointment of directors like Choirul Anwar was part of a broader effort by the Surabaya City Government to professionalize the management of BUMDs. The revelation that animal feed funds were being stolen from within the very leadership tasked with the zoo’s recovery is a significant blow to public trust and the city’s reputation.
The corruption scandal is particularly sensitive because it directly impacts the welfare of living creatures. Unlike corruption in infrastructure or construction, where the impact is seen in sub-standard materials, corruption in a zoo manifests in the physical suffering of animals. Reduction in feed quality can lead to malnutrition, weakened immune systems, and increased mortality rates, which were the exact issues the zoo had fought to overcome over the last decade.
Legal Framework and Potential Sanctions
Choirul Anwar is being charged under Indonesia’s Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption, as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001. The specific articles involve the abuse of authority and the enrichment of oneself or others at the expense of the state. Given that the Surabaya Zoo is a BUMD, the funds it manages are considered state assets, making any misappropriation a direct loss to the regional treasury.
If convicted, the suspect faces a minimum of four years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, along with substantial fines. Furthermore, the prosecution is expected to pursue the recovery of the stolen assets. The IDR 10.2 billion loss is a preliminary figure, and auditors from the Finance and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) are expected to provide a final, comprehensive valuation of the state losses as the trial approaches.
Broader Implications for BUMD Governance
This case highlights a recurring issue in the management of Regional-Owned Enterprises (BUMDs) in Indonesia: the lack of transparency and the vulnerability of operational budgets to top-level interference. Because BUMDs often operate with a degree of autonomy from the central municipal bureaucracy, they require robust internal and external auditing mechanisms that, in this case, appear to have failed.
The Surabaya City Government, as the owner of the zoo, now faces pressure to overhaul the oversight of all its regional companies. Observers suggest that the "fictitious reporting" mentioned by the prosecutor could only have persisted for eight years if there were significant lapses in the annual auditing process conducted by the supervisory board (Dewan Pengawas).
Public reaction in Surabaya has been one of outrage, with many calling for a total audit of the zoo’s animal health records to see if the reduction in feed quality resulted in any undocumented animal deaths. Animal welfare advocates have argued that the IDR 7.4 billion allegedly used for "foya-foya" could have significantly upgraded the enclosures or provided specialized veterinary care for endangered species.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
Following his designation as a suspect, Choirul Anwar has been placed in pre-trial detention at the Kejati Jatim detention center. This move is intended to prevent the suspect from tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses as the prosecution prepares the formal indictment.
The Kejati Jatim team has promised further updates as they move into the next phase of the investigation. "We will keep the public informed. This is a matter of public interest, not just because of the financial loss, but because of the symbolic importance of the Surabaya Zoo to our city," Punia concluded.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the focus will likely shift to identifying any accomplices within the zoo’s administrative hierarchy and ensuring that the current management of KBS is shielded from further financial instability. The city’s leadership must now work to restore the zoo’s integrity, ensuring that every rupiah allocated for the animals actually reaches their bowls, rather than the pockets of those entrusted with their care.
