Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained Maritime Affairs and Fishery Minister Edhy Prabowo and four other suspects over an alleged bribery case in permit issuance for aquaculture and/or fishing businesses and marine commodities in 2020.

The minister and four other suspects are detained at the anti-graft body's prison from November 25 to December 14, 2020, KPK Deputy Chief Nawawi Pomolango stated at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday evening.

Maritime Affairs and Fishery Ministry's Special Staff and Deputy Head of the Due Diligence Team Safri; Siswadi from PT ACK; Ainul Faqih, a staff member of Edhy Prabowo's wife; and Director of PT DPP Suharjito are the four others under KPK’s detention.

Meanwhile, two other figures named suspects by the KPK investigators had yet to be detained as of Wednesday evening.

In its place, the suspects -- Andreau Pribadi Misata, the minister's special staff and head of the due diligence team, and Amiril Mukminin -- were ordered to surrender, according to Pomolango.

In this bribery case, Edhy Prabowo, Safri, Misata, Siswadi, Faqih, and Mukminin are allegedly the recipients, while Suharjito had allegedly bribed them.

The investigators accused Edhy Prabowo of having received Rp9.8 billion and US$100,000 and charged him and other suspects for violating Articles 12 and 11 of Law No. 31 of 1999, as amended by the 2001 Corruption Law; juncto Articles 55 and 64 of the Criminal Code.

The KPK investigators charged Suharjito for violating Articles 5 and 13 of Law No. 31 of 1999, as amended by the 2001 Corruption Law; juncto Articles 55 and 64 of the Criminal Code.

Edhy Prabowo's bribery case is perceived as a tragic blow to Prabowo Subianto, currently the defense minister in the Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin administration, and his Great Indonesia Movement (Gerinda) Party by considering his strong fight against corruption.

ANTARA noted that during his campaign trail of last year's presidential elections, Presidential candidate number 02 Prabowo Subianto repeatedly echoed his pledge to fight corruption fiercely to build a just and prosperous Indonesia.

"Our people have been sick of corruption and being unfairly treated. Why? Because much of Indonesia's wealth has been taken out of the country," he told his supporters thronging the Karang Pale field of Mataram City on March 26, 2019, to listen to his campaign speech.

Hence, if he were to win the presidential elections and become the Indonesian president, he would build a corruption-free government for bringing justice and prosperity to the people at large, Prabowo, the founder of Gerindra, stated.

However, he was defeated by incumbent President Joko Widodo in the presidential elections though he was recruited as defense minister while another Gerindra cadre, Edhy Prabowo, was appointed as the maritime affairs and fishery minister.

 

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