Edhy Prabowo arrest puts spotlight on Gerindra’s anti-graft pledge

The political career of Edhy Prabowo, a leading cadre of the Great Indonesia Motion Celebration (Gerindra) and member of the Widodo-Amin cabinet, may well end with his arrest in a bribery case on Wednesday.

Shortly after his arrest, Prabowo stepped down from the Gerindra’s deputy chairmanship and the post of Marine Affairs and Fishery Minister.

He also apologized for frustrating President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Gerindra leader, Prabowo Subianto.

According to Hersubeno Arief, a senior reporter and leading opinion-maker through his Online forum News Network (FNN) Channel, Edhy Prabowo acted as a cabinet member for one year, one month, and 2 days after his swearing-in on October 23, 2019.

Coincidently, the day President Jokowi inaugurated his cabinet members, including Edhy Prabowo, at the State Palace last year and the day of Prabowo’s arrest were both Wednesdays.

Edhy Prabowo was arrested by the Corruption Removal Commission (KPK) detectives quickly after coming to the Soekarno Hatta International Airport from his Honolulu journey early on November 25, 2020.

He was taken into custody in addition to 16 other individuals, including his other half, Iis Rosita Dewi, over an alleged bribery case including the issuance of permits for aquaculture and/or fishing companies and marine commodities in 2020.

Related news: Graft case: Gerindra states it will appreciate legal process


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KPK detectives have actually named 7 of the 17 detainees as suspects. 5 of the 7 suspects, consisting of Edhy Prabowo, have actually been detained at the anti-graft body’s jail from November 25 to December 14, 2020.

Four suspects who have actually been apprehended with Prabowo are Maritime Affairs and Fishery Ministry’s Special Personnel and deputy head of the due diligence team, Safri; Siswadi from PT ACK; Ainul Faqih, a team member for Edhy Prabowo’s better half; and director of PT DPP, Suharjito.

On the other hand, KPK deputy chief Nawawi Pomolango kept in mind that two other suspects were yet to be apprehended since Wednesday night.

The 2 suspects– Andreau Pribadi Misata, the minister’s unique personnel, and Amiril Mukminin, head of the due diligence team– have actually been bought to give up, Pomolango informed.

According to the KPK, Edhy Prabowo, Safri, Misata, Siswadi, Faqih, and Mukminin allegedly took allurements from Suharjito.

KPK private investigators have actually accused Edhy Prabowo of receiving Rp9.8 billion and US$100 thousand in bribes and charged him and the other suspects for breaching Articles 12 and 11 of Law No. 31 of 1999, as amended by the 2001 Corruption Law; juncto Articles 55 and 64 of the Lawbreaker Code.

Meanwhile, KPK investigators have charged Suharjito for breaking Articles 5 and 13 of Law No. 31 of 1999, as changed by the 2001 Corruption Law; juncto Articles 55 and 64 of the Crook Code.

Edhy Prabowo’s bribery case is being viewed as a tragic blow to Prabowo Subianto, presently the defense minister in the Joko Widodo-Ma’ ruf Amin administration, and his Gerindra Party, considering his strong battle versus corruption.

Many Indonesians still remember what Prabowo Subianto had pledged in one of the rounds of the presidential dispute during in 2015’s elections.

During an argument with his competitor, incumbent President Jokowi, which happened at Bidakara Hotel, Jakarta on January 17, 2019, Prabowo Subianto had mentioned Gerindra’s commitment to eliminating corruption.

He had actually even assured to send his celebration’s cadres to jail if they were found devoting corruption-related crimes.

He had reiterated his promise to combat corruption increasingly and develop a just and prosperous Indonesia while campaigning for last year’s governmental elections.

” Our people are tired of corruption and of being unjustly dealt with. Why? Since much of Indonesia’s wealth has been secured of the country,” he had actually informed his advocates at the Karang Pale field in Mataram City on March 26, 2019.

At the time, Prabowo, the creator of Gerindra, had said that if he was elected the Indonesian president, he would develop a corruption-free government for bringing justice and prosperity to individuals at large.

However, he was defeated by President Jokowi, and later on selected as defense minister, while another Gerindra cadre, Edhy Prabowo, was selected as the maritime affairs and fishery minister.

Following Edhy Prabowo’s arrest, President Jokowi selected Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Financial Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, as the acting Maritime Affairs and Fishery Minister.

” Mr. Minister (Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan) has received a letter signed by State Secretary Pratikno [on his appointment],” spokesperson for the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Jodi Mahardi, stated in Jakarta on Thursday.

President Jokowi has stated he will appreciate the legal process of the anti-graft body’s probe into the bribery case involving Edhy Prabowo.

While speaking with reporters in connection with Edhy Prabowo’s arrest, Nawawi Pomolango restated his call to all state authorities to prevent any type of power abuse to enrich themselves or other people.

” The KPK often reminds all state authorities to keep in mind their oaths by working totally and expertly to fulfill the provided requireds and prevent any abuse of power for the sake of their own beneficial interests,” he remarked.

Pomolango kept in mind that state officials, certainly, have chances to formulate policies that are beneficial for the nation and in keeping with the state’s interests.

” Hence, please do not abuse the authority and responsibility mandated exclusively for the sake of your vested interests,” he verified.

Associated news: KPK apprehends maritime affairs and fishery minister over bribery case


Related news: Jokowi designates Pandjaitan as acting maritime affairs, fishery minister

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