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| Village Fund Scandal Rocks Cianjur: Village Head Arrested Over Rp300 Million Fraud Case. (Illustration image) |
A shocking fraud case has rocked Cianjur, West Java, after a village head who was supposed to serve as a role model for the community was arrested by police. The Head of Mekargalih Village in Ciranjang District, identified as TD, has been detained by Cianjur Police for allegedly committing fraud and embezzlement involving hundreds of millions of rupiah.
The case surfaced after a local resident reported that TD had failed to return a loan worth Rp300 million. At the time, the money was borrowed under the excuse that Village Funds had not yet been disbursed, while development programs allegedly had to continue so that public assistance would not be delayed.
Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of Cianjur Police, AKP Fajri Amelia Putra, confirmed that TD was not acting alone. A village official with the initials PA was also detained for allegedly being involved in the same case.
“Both suspects are currently undergoing further examination. They were detained following reports of fraud and embezzlement,” AKP Fajri said on Thursday (January 15, 2026).
He added that investigators are still deepening the case and developing information based on statements from both suspects and the victim. Police are also exploring the possibility of additional findings as the investigation continues, given that the victim’s losses reached hundreds of millions of rupiah.
The victim’s legal counsel, Aang Jaelani, explained that the problem began when the Rp300 million loan was never repaid. At the time, the village head and his staff promised that the money would be returned once the Village Funds were disbursed. They even claimed the lender would receive extra compensation as the funds were urgently needed to ensure village assistance programs could proceed.
However, those promises were never fulfilled. Even after five years, up to 2025, the borrowed money was still not returned.
“Our client repeatedly tried to collect the money. In fact, he only asked for the original amount to be returned, without any additional profit. But there was never any clarity,” Aang explained.
With no sign of good faith from the suspects, the victim eventually decided to take legal action and reported the case to Cianjur Police. That report ultimately led to the arrest of the village head and his staff.
Meanwhile, the Cianjur Regency Government has taken swift action. Dendi Kristanto, Secretary of the Community and Village Empowerment Office (DPMD) of Cianjur, stated that the village head involved in the case has been temporarily suspended from office.
To ensure village administration continues to run smoothly, a temporary official has been appointed from the district government. A permanent dismissal will follow once the case receives a final and binding verdict from the Cianjur District Court.
“He has been temporarily dismissed because he and his staff are involved in a legal case and are currently detained. A full dismissal will be carried out after a court decision is issued,” Dendi said.
This case serves as a strong reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in managing public funds, especially those intended to improve the welfare of rural communities.