Minister Edhy Arrested, Mahfud: Government Supports What KPK Does

Menkopolhukam Mahfud MD (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam), Mahfud MD said that the government did not yet know the reason for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to arrest Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo.

Even so, the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) emphasized that the government would not intervene and would respect the legal process currently being carried out by the KPK.

"Until now, the government does not know for sure what crime was committed or suspected of being committed by Pak Edhy Prabowo, so he was arrested by the OTT by the KPK. But whatever the reason, the government has stated that it supports what the KPK is doing," Mahfud said in a written statement to reporters, Wednesday , 25 November.

He also invited anti-graft agencies to complete their duties in accordance with applicable regulations. Moreover, so far President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has always asked law enforcement not to discriminate against whoever the perpetrator is.

"So far, the government has also facilitated the KPK to always act in order to eradicate corruption," he said.

Moreover, he had already told the KPK that he would be ready to oversee any corruption eradication that was carried out.

"We have told the KPK, please do it and we will back it up if it is to eradicate corruption," he said.

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

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

In the process of arrest, the KPK sent three task forces. One of the task force teams was led by a senior KPK investigator, Novel Baswedan.