Calling Effendi Gazali, The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Examines The Results Of The Study And The Concept Of Fry Export Regulations

JAKARTA - Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators summoned a number of witnesses in the bribery case of fries or lobster seeds that ensnared former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo. One of the witnesses summoned was Effendi Gazali, Edhy's former adviser when he was still in office.

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Affairs Ali Fikri said Effendi was summoned by investigators to study concepts and studies which led to the issuance of a ministerial regulation regarding the export of lobster fries or seeds.

"Effendi Gazali, a former adviser to the minister of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, has deepened his knowledge regarding the results of the study and the draft KKP Ministerial Regulation draft regarding the lobster seed export policy," Ali said in his written statement, Thursday, March 4.

Furthermore, the investigators also summoned other parties such as the Director of Aquaculture Production and Business, Directorate General of Aquaculture, KKP, Arik Hari Wibowo. In the examination that was held today, investigators investigated the loss of the percentage value of fry cultivation before exporting.

This, said Ali, was a special order issued by Edhy to his staff at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Furthermore, the KPK also examined Bank Mandiri employee, Eko Irwanto. Ali said that he was being investigated to investigate the repayment of a house belonging to Edhy's former staff member who was also a suspect, namely Andreau Pribadi Misata. This house is located in Bekasi, West Java.

"The source of the money is thought to come from a group of fry exporters who have obtained export permits at the KKP," he said.

As previously reported, in the case of the export bribery of shrimp fry or lobster seeds, Edhy Prabowo was named a suspect in receiving bribes along with five other people, namely: Stafsus Minister of KKP Safri (SAF) and Andreau Pribadi Misanta (APM); Management of PT Aero Citra Kargo (PT ACK) Siswadi (SWD); The staff of the wife of the Minister of KKP, Ainul Faqih, and Amiril Mukminin (AM).

Meanwhile, the giver of the bribe was the Director of PT Dua Putra Perkasa Pratama (PT DPPP) Suharjito (SJT).

Edhy was named a suspect because he was suspected of accepting bribes from companies that had been issued a lobster seed export license using a forwarder company and were kept in one account up to Rp9.8 billion.

The money that goes to the account of PT ACK, which is currently the sole cargo service provider for the export of lobster seeds, is then withdrawn to the accounts of PT ACK holders, namely Ahmad Bahtiar and Amri, for a total of Rp9.8 billion.

Furthermore, on November 5, 2020, Ahmad Bahtiar transferred Rp3.4 billion to the staff account of Edhy's wife, Ainul, which was earmarked for the needs of Edhy, his wife Iis Rosyati Dewi, Safri, and Andreau.

This money is used for shopping for luxury goods by Edhy and his wife in Honolulu, USA on November 21 to 23, 2020, amounting to around IDR 750 million, including Rolex watches, Tumi and LV bags, road bikes, and Old Navy clothes.

In addition, around May 2020, Edhy was also suspected of receiving 100 thousand US dollars from Suharjito through Safri and Amiril.