KKP Minister Edhy Prabowo Arrested By KPK, Observers Call For Restructuring Of Lobster Seed Exports

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo met with IMAS Univ. Tasmanians discuss lobsters (Photo: Twitter @Edhy_Prabowo)

JAKARTA - Ocean sector observer and Executive Director of the Center for Maritime Studies for Humanity, Abdul Halim, stated that the export policy of lobster or fry needs to be reorganized because it is suspected to be related to reports of the arrest of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Edhy Prabowo, by the KPK.

"The indications point strongly to the clear lobster seed export case," said Abdul Halim as quoted by Antara, Jakarta, Wednesday, November 25.

Abdul Halim said that the arrest experienced by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Edhy Prabowo and a number of KKP officials, was an unfortunate tragedy.

However, he continued, the principle of presumption of innocence must be put forward, and the KPK must expose the legal case as transparently as possible.

"The guilty party was punished according to the applicable regulations, and it could be a lesson for improving the management of lobsters and fisheries in general in Indonesia which must be oriented towards the greatest possible prosperity of the people, especially lobster cultivators in the country," he said.

He reminded that since the beginning Minister Edhy Prabowo had been reminded of the lobster seed export controversy.

As reported by the KPK, the arrest of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo and several other people took place at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday morning.

"That's right, at 1:23 a.m. in Soetta," said KPK deputy chairman Nurul Ghufron in his statement in Jakarta, Wednesday.

Based on information, Edhy was arrested after returning home from the United States. Edhy and several people who were arrested were already at the KPK building, Jakarta to undergo an intensive examination.

However, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has not provided detailed information regarding the case, so it has arrested Edhy. In accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code, the KPK has 1X24 hours to determine the status of the arrested parties.