Mr Minister (Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan) received a letter signed by State Secretary Pratikno
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Nawawi Pomolango reiterated his call for all state officials to avoid any form of power abuse to enrich themselves or other people.

"The KPK often reminds all state officials to bear in mind their oaths by working wholeheartedly and professionally to fulfil the given mandates and avoid any abuse of power for the sake of their own vested interests," he remarked here on early Thursday.

Conversing with journalists in connection with Maritime Affairs and Fishery Minister Edhy Prabowo's arrest over a bribery case, Pomolango noted that state officials, indeed, have opportunities to formulate policies that are conducive for the nation and in keeping with the state's interests.

"Hence, please do not abuse the authority and accountability mandated solely for the sake of your vested interests," he affirmed.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) appointed Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to serve as acting maritime affairs and fishery minister after the anti-graft body arrested Edhy Prabowo.

"Mr Minister (Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan) received a letter signed by State Secretary Pratikno," according to spokesman for the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment Jodi Mahardi.

President Jokowi respects the legal process of the anti-graft body's probe into Edhy Prabowo's bribery case.

Edhy Prabowo, a top cadre of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) in the Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin administration's cabinet line-up, was apprehended shortly after arriving at the Soekarno Hatta International Airport from his Honolulu trip on early Wednesday.

Edhy Prabowo was arrested along with 16 other people, including his wife Iis Rosita Dewi, over an alleged bribery case in permit issuance for aquaculture and/or fishing businesses and marine commodities in 2020.

The KPK investigators have named seven of the 17 people arrested as suspects. Five of the seven suspects, including Edhy Prabowo, were detained at the anti-graft body's prison from November 25 to December 14, 2020.

The four suspects detained are 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.

Meanwhile, KPK Deputy Chief Nawawi Pomolango noted that 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, Pomolango remarked.

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

The investigators accused Edhy Prabowo of having received Rp9.8 billion and US$100 thousand and charged him and the other suspects over violation of 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.
Related news: Jokowi appoints Pandjaitan as acting maritime affairs,fishery minister

Related news: KPK detains maritime affairs and fishery minister over bribery case


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Translator: Benardy F, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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