Witness Of Benur Bribery Case Died At Ciputra Hospital Tangerang Due To Illness

JAKARTA - The family explained the death of Deden Deni, who was a witness in the alleged bribery of the export of lobster seeds or fries that ensnared the former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Edhy Prabowo.

The family representative, Junaedi said, Deden died on Thursday, December 31, 2020 at the Ciputra Tangerang Hospital. Before he died, Deden had been undergoing treatment since December 19 after suffering from complications. However, there was no detailed explanation of the complications experienced for reasons of privacy.

"The illness suffered by the late Deden Deni Purnama Bin H Ooy Ubaidilah is a chronic complication disease that often recurs due to fatigue. In addition, the family of the late Deden Deni Purnama Bin H Ooy Ubaidilah, namely his wife and children are still doing independent isolation," said Junaedi in a written statement to journalists, Tuesday, January 5.

Junaedi said the family was still in a state of grief and was experiencing deep trauma because it was linked to the alleged bribery incident. Families ask that privacy remains respected.

"For that, we ask the media to stop the polemic surrounding Deden Deni's death," he said.

Previously reported, Deden Deni, who was the controller of PT Aero Citra Kargo (ACK) Deden Deni, who died some time ago and this news was confirmed by the Acting Spokesperson of the Corruption Eradication Committee Ali Fikri. "The information we received concerned (Deden Deni) died around December 31," Ali said when confirmed.

Ali confirmed that the death of Deden Deni would not affect the investigation process in this bribery case. He said there were still many witnesses and other evidence that investigators could use to uncover this case.

"The process of investigating the case of the EP suspect (Edhy Prabowo) and his friends has not been disturbed. So far, it is still ongoing and of course there are still many witnesses and other evidence that strengthens the evidence of a series of alleged corruption allegations," he said.

Meanwhile, when confirmed regarding this news, Edhy Prabowo admitted that he did not know Deden.

"Innalillahi, you don't know me," said Edhy after being questioned by investigators at the KPK building, Jakarta, Monday, December 4.

It is known that Deden was one of the witnesses who allegedly knew many things related to the bribery case of export fries.

Deden, who is said to be a Director of PT Perishable Logistic Indonesia (PLI), was briefly secured and examined intensively when the KPK held an OTT on November 25, 2020.

In addition, Deden was also examined by KPK investigators on December 7, 2020. At that time, investigators questioned Deden regarding the process of submitting an application for a lobster fry export permit at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

PT ACK is the only cargo company that Edhy Prabowo has approved of monopolizing the service of transshipment of fry to foreign countries with a transportation fee of Rp 1,800 per head.

In carrying out the monopoly of the cargo business, PT ACK uses PT PLI, which is part of the ATT Group, as the operator of the field for shipping fries abroad.

Deden's name was also one of four names prevented by the KPK from traveling abroad for the next six months.

Apart from Deden, three other names were prevented from traveling abroad, namely member of Commission V DPR from the Gerindra Faction Iis Rosita Dewi who is also the wife of Edhy Prabowo; Neti Herawati, the wife of PT ACK Siswadhy's management who also has the status of a suspect; and Dipo Tjahjo Pranoto, who was said to be the controller of PT PLI.