Minister Edhy Prabowo, Who Used To Shout Loudly To Avoid Corruption, Is Now Arrested By The KPK

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Edhy Prabowo. (Photo: KKP)

JAKARTA - Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in the early hours of this morning. This arrest was made due to allegations of corruption related to the export license for lobster fries or seeds.

This incident turned out to be the opposite of what Edhy had said a year ago. When he had only served for two months, Edhy opened his remarks at the World Anti-Corruption Day, 9 December 2019.

Collaborating with the theme "Making the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries clean without corruption, towards a developed Indonesia", Edhy firmly asked the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) employees to avoid corruption in their work.

"I invite all KKP ranks, there are 13 thousand employees, let us work together to eradicate corruption. We hope that the KKP will be an example in this country as a government organization that is free from corruption," said Edhy on December 9, 2019.

Edhy said at that time, the efforts to eradicate corruption by KKP employees were not only interpreted as jargon or symbols. However, eradicating corruption starts from the smallest things, namely in daily work.

"You as an officer assigned by the state that serves the people, once someone comes to meet you, want to or not accept? That's all. If you decide not to accept, it is corruption," he said.

Therefore, Edhy asked all KKP employees to accept complaints that came from all levels of society. "If there are guests who come to complain, they are welcomed openly, whoever complains, be it at the Central KKP office, be it at the airport, at UPT, and other centers," said Edhy.

For information, the Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri confirmed that his men arrested the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo.

This arrest was made by the prosecution team after Edhy Prabowo and his entourage arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Cengkareng, Tangerang, to be precise at Terminal 3 of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.

"Last night KP Minister was secured by the KPK at Soekarno-Hatta Airport 3 when he returned from Honolulu," said Firli in his statement.

The former Deputy for Enforcement said that Edhy was arrested because he was suspected of being involved in corruption in the issuance of the export permit for lobster fries or seeds.

"Now he is at the KPK for questioning. Please give the deputy prosecution team time to work first," he said.