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JAKARTA: Indonesia’s anti-corruption commission formally named the country’s fisheries minister on suspicion of taking bribes related to lobster larvae exports and alleged that he used the money on a luxury shopping spree during a visit to the United States.
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo was arrested upon arrival at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Wednesday (November 25) from a working visit to the United States, the Commission’s vice president told Kompas TV. of the Eradication of Corruption, Nurul Ghufron.
Prabowo apologized and said, “I will be responsible for what I have done.”
He was later named a suspect along with five other officials and a businessman for allegedly taking bribes in exchange for permits related to the export of lobster larvae and other commodities this year.
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The anti-corruption commission, known in Indonesia by its acronym KPK, said Prabowo is accused of receiving at least 3.4 billion rupees ($ 240,000) from various companies through his two personal assistants, who were also named suspects, this month.
Another KPK vice president, Nawawi Pamolango, told a press conference shortly before midnight that Prabowo and his wife had spent some of the money to buy branded goods during their visit to the United States, including a Rolex watch and Louis Vuitton bags. .
Prabowo earlier this year revoked the ban on lobster larvae exports imposed by its predecessor. That decision drew criticism from its predecessor and activists over sustainability concerns.
President Joko Widodo said he respected the anti-corruption commission’s decision to arrest Prabowo.
“I believe that the KPK works in a transparent, open and professional manner,” Widodo told reporters. “The government constantly supports efforts to eradicate corruption.”
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Prabowo faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. It could further tarnish Widodo’s credibility when it comes to fighting corruption. Two former members of Widodo’s cabinet have already been sentenced to prison in corruption cases.
Former Minister of Social Affairs Idrus Marham was sentenced to five years in a bribery case related to a coal-fired power plant project on the island of Sumatra, while former Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi was sentenced to seven years after he was found guilty of personally using Committee Grant.
Prabowo is the vice chairman of the Indonesian Great Movement Party, or Gerindra, a former rival of Widodo’s party. He joined the cabinet in November 2019 as part of an alliance forged after Widodo’s election to a second term, alongside party chairman and former rival to Widodo in the 2019 presidential election, Prabowo Subianto, who is currently serving. as Minister of Defense.
Considered by many to be one of Subianto’s most trusted aides, Prabowo told reporters that he would resign as Gerindra’s minister and politician.
“I apologize to the president … I have betrayed his trust, and to Prabowo Subianto, my teacher who has taught many things,” he told reporters before getting into a car to be taken to a detention cell.
Widodo campaigned in part on a commitment to running clean government in a country that ranked 85th out of 180 countries in the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index compiled by Transparency International.
