The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo a suspect in a bribery case pertaining to a 2020 lobster cultivation permit.
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KOMPAS TEAM
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KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO
Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo wears a prison vest after the investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission investigator team at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Wednesday (25/11/2020).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo a suspect in a bribery case on Wednesday (25/11/2020), pertaining to a 2020 lobster cultivation permit. Edhy’s arrest is expected to help restore public trust in the KPK’s antigraft measures.
The arrest is also expected to serve as a turning point for the government and political parties to strengthen their anticorruption commitment.
During a string of arrests in the early hours of Wednesday morning (25/11), the KPK arrested 17 people in a number of different areas. Edhy was arrested at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten, soon after he landed, returning from an official visit to the United States. The commission also arrested Edhy\'s wife Iis Rosita Dewi, who also serves as a House of Representatives member, a number of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry officials as well as some people from the private sector.
I apologize to President [Joko] Jokowi [Widodo], Pak Prabowo [Subianto] and my mother. I will be responsible and explain what happened.
In a press conference on Wednesday evening, KPK deputy chairman Nawawi Pomolango announced that his commission had named seven suspects in the bribery case, namely Edhy, ministry special staff member Safri, freight forwarding company PT Aero Citra Kargo (ACK) official Siswandi and Iis’ aide Ainul Faqih for allegedly accepting the bribe, as well as special staffers for the minister Andreu Pribadi Misata and Amiril Mukminin. Andreu and Amiril, however, have not been detained. Meanwhile, PT Dua Putra Perkasa (DPP) director Suharjito was named a suspect for allegedly giving the bribe.
“I apologize to President [Joko] Jokowi [Widodo], Pak Prabowo [Subianto] and my mother. I will be responsible and explain what happened. I will also resign from the [Gerindra party] deputy chairman post,” Edhy said.
Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro
Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Edhy Prabowo when presented at a press conference held by the Corruption Eradication Commission regarding the case of alleged bribery for lobster cultivation permits in 2020 at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Thursday (26/11/2020) in the early hours.
Edhy is the third minister under President Jokowi’s leadership to have attracted the attention of the KPK. In September 2019, then-youth and sports minister Imam Nahrawi was also named a suspect by the antigraft body. At the end of August 2018, then-social affairs minister Idrus Marham was also named a suspect by the KPK for his involvement in a bribery case pertaining to the construction of the Riau-1 coal-fired power plant (PLTU).
Responding to the arrest, President Jokowi said he respected the ongoing legal process at the KPK. The President also reasserted that the government was fully committed to eradicating corruption. "I believe that the KPK has been working in an open, transparent and professional manner," Jokowi said at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. The President emphasized that the government would continue to support efforts to prevent and eradicate corruption in the country.
“The government supports the KPK’s move, for whatever reason. Please proceed according to the law,” Coordinating Political Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said on Wednesday evening.
The government supports the KPK’s move, for whatever reason.
Restoring public trust
Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University (UIN Syarif Hidayatullah) professor Azyumardi Azra has commended the KPK’s move to make a high-profile arrest following the controversial revision of the 2019 KPK Law. “The KPK should use Edhy’s arrest as an opportunity to restore public confidence,” Azyumardi said.
Following the issuance of the revised Law No.19/2019 on the KPK, a number of civil society groups noted a decline in the antigraft body’s performance. Azyumardi has expressed hope that this case will be openly processed and will involve the public. The public, according to Azyumardi, is eager to see if the KPK is still brave enough to eradicate corruption in the country.
Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro
Corruption Eradication Commission press conference regarding the case of suspected bribery for lobster cultivation permit in 2020 at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Thursday (26/11/2020) in the early hours. The KPK named seven suspects, one of which was Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Edhy Prabowo.
According to Azyumardi, Edhy’s arrest serves as an opportunity for President Jokowi to demonstrate his political will to eradicate corruption by immediately dismissing Edhy from his Cabinet. For the Gerindra party as well as other political parties, the arrest provides a good moment to cast out corrupt figures.
Gerindra deputy chairman Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said on Wednesday afternoon that he had just heard about Edhy’s arrest and was waiting for information from the KPK. Dasco acknowledged that he had told the news to Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto, who instructed him to await further developments in the case.
Timeline
The KPK received information on an alleged bribe received by state officials. “Then from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23, the KPK again received information on transactions in a bank account allegedly used to collect the funds from several parties to be used by state officials to purchase a number of luxury goods abroad,” Nawawi said.
A payment of Rp 3.4 billion was recorded from someone in the private sector earmarked to fulfill the needs of Edhy, his wife Iis, Safri and Andreu. The money was used to pay for Edhy and Iis’ purchases of luxury goods in Honolulu, the US, from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23. The items included Rolex watches and bags. There was also a payment of US$100,000 and a number of other deposits.
The bribe was allegedly related to the issuance of Decree No. MEN-KP/2020 on due diligence for lobster cultivation business permits, as well as the private sector’s interest in the export of lobster seeds.
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