Investigators from the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office have detained the former President Director of Surabaya Zoo, Chairul Anwar, over an alleged corruption case involving Rp10 billion in funds.
The arrest was made after investigators conducted an intensive interrogation of the suspect. In this case, Chairul Anwar is suspected of creating fictitious financial reports and misappropriating funds from the Surabaya Zoo’s animal feed budget for personal gain.
Following these allegations, the suspect is currently being held at the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office Detention Centre pending further investigation.
The announcement of Chairul Anwar’s designation as a suspect was made directly by the Assistant for Special Crimes at the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office, I Gede Punia Atmaja, during a press conference held at the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday evening, 21st of July.
“Based on preliminary calculations together with the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency of East Java Province, the suspect’s actions caused state losses reaching Rp10,209,664,735.60,” Atmaja said to the press.
Of the total alleged embezzlement, which exceeded Rp10.2 billion, the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office Special Crimes investigation team found strong indications that most of the funds were misappropriated for the suspect’s personal benefit.
The damaging impact of this alleged corruption extends beyond the figures presented in the audit reports of the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office and the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency. The budget irregularities are also alleged to have directly affected the welfare of hundreds of animals and the maintenance of facilities at Surabaya Zoo.
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One of the most significant findings uncovered by investigators was the alleged manipulation of the budget allocated for animal feed and healthcare. Funds intended to cover the animals’ daily nutritional needs were allegedly reduced substantially, while the financial accountability reports were manipulated to make it appear that the full budget had been properly utilised.
“Animals [at Surabaya Zoo] also became unhealthy, emaciated, and even prone to death due to poor care. One method involves embezzling animal feed budgets,” Atmaja added.
For his alleged actions, Chairul Anwar is suspected of violating Article 603 as the primary charge or Article 604 as the subsidiary charge of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, as amended by Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustments, in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption.