An annual report on corruption trends by the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) has revealed that Indonesia’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) remains stagnant at 34 points, with the highest number of corruption cases found at the village level.
In 2023, there were a total of 791 corruption cases across Indonesia, with 187 cases, or 23.6 percent, occurring in villages. This marks an increase from the previous year, which saw 155 village-level corruption cases. The number of suspects involved also rose from 252 to 294 this year.
“While the number of cases relative to the total number of villages might seem small, this should be viewed as an iceberg phenomenon,” ICW said in its report.
The consistent rise in village-level corruption has been noted since the enactment of Law No. 6/2014 on Village governance. ICW argues that merely revising this law will not address the root causes of corruption in the village sector.
Recommendations for improvement
ICW recommends improving the management mechanisms of village funds. The organization urges the government, particularly the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration, to reactivate the Village Fund Task Force to oversee and evaluate the management of these funds.
Monitoring period and data collection
ICW’s corruption trend monitoring covered the period from January 1 to December 31, 2023. The data was collected through tabulation and information gathering from all districts and cities across 38 provinces, as well as from online media and law enforcement websites. This information was then processed, compared, and analyzed descriptively.
This report underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to combat corruption, particularly at the village level, and highlights the importance of robust oversight and effective management of village funds.
