Serang. Hundreds of vehicles belonging to the Banten provincial government, worth Rp 25.5 billion ($1.6 million), have been unaccounted for, according to a recent finding by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

State auditors revealed that local government officials couldn’t trace the whereabouts of these cars after the 2023 audit on government assets.

“There are 211 vehicles of the Banten provincial government worth Rp 25.5 billion that have gone missing,” the BPK report states.

These cars were acquired between 2001 and 2019 and are still registered under the Banten government in “decent condition.”

The Banten Government Secretariat owns 187 of the missing cars, while 18 cars are registered under the Provincial Revenue Agency (Bapenda), and six cars under the Banten Legislative Council Secretariat.

Officials responsible for the vehicles have informed state auditors that they have no records or information about the whereabouts of the vehicles.

Banten Government Secretary Virgojanti said an investigation is underway to locate the missing cars.

Separately, Rina Dewiyanti, the head of the Provincial Asset and Finance Management Department, said that her office will follow up on the audit results by forming a team to find the vehicles.

In many cases, government assets have been transferred into personal belongings after the officials entrusted with these facilities retired from their jobs.