Dragged Into The Edhy Prabowo Case, Hashim Djojohadikusumo: There Are Political Elements To Drop Our Family Names

Attorney Hotman Paris Hutapea together with Hashim Djojohadikusumo. (Photo: Instagram @hotmanparisofficial)

JAKARTA - The case of alleged lobster seed export license bribery committed by the former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo, has also dragged down Prabowo's family name, namely his younger brother Hashim Djojohadikusumo and his nephew, Rahayu Saraswati.

Hashim Djojohadikusumo, who once arranged for an export permit for his company, PT Bima Sakti Mutiara or now known as PT Bima Sakti Bahari, is also suspected of being involved in the alleged bribery case.

Not only him, Hashim said, his son, Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo, who is currently running for mayor of South Tangerang was also linked to the case.

"On behalf of my family, I feel very saddened. I honestly feel wronged, I feel insulted, slandered, my son (who is busy taking care of the Pilkada) really feels. I suspect that there is a certain political motivation, to drop our family name," he said, during a press conference, at Jet Sky Cafe, Pantai Mutiara, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, Friday, 4 December.

Hashim said his family had been involved in the maritime and fishery business for 34 years. Precisely since 1986, this business has been engaged in pearl cultivation.

Furthermore, said Hashim, for the past 5 years, the pearl business has stagnated and made his party suffer losses. Due to this condition, an idea emerged to diversify its business into other sectors of cultivation, such as sea cucumber cultivation, crab cultivation, and lobster cultivation.

But unfortunately, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at that time, Susi Pudjiastuti, prohibited cultivation, let alone the export of lobster. The intention to cultivate lobster was canceled.

Then, when Edhy Prabowo took office and legalized lobster cultivation, Hashim immediately took care of the permit in May. Since the licensing was processed, Hashim emphasized that he had never exported lobster seeds once.

"Right now, we haven't exported lobster. I want to straighten this out because almost all of my friends, even our family think we already have a lobster license. Until now we haven't, please straighten it out. We feel wronged," he said.

Previously, PT Bima Sakti Mutiara (BSM) or currently known as PT Bima Sakti Bahari owned by Hasyim who is also a Gerindra Party politician was said to be one of more than 60 exporters of lobster seeds.

Hashim's name emerged after the former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Edhy Prabowo, was arrested by the anti-corruption agency, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). This is because Edhy is also a cadre of the Gerindra Party.

Edhy's tripping over in the case of alleged bribery related to the lobster seed export license also highlights the Gerindra Party. This is because some of its politicians have applied for the lobster seed export license.

However, at that time, Edhy argued that he did not determine the cadres of his umbrella party as exporters. He said the warrant to grant an exporter's license was not in his hands. The warrant is issued by the team, which consists of the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries, the Directorate General of Cultivation, and the BKIPM.

Edhy said the warrant to grant an exporter's license was not in his hands. The warrant is issued by the team, which consists of the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries, the Directorate General of Cultivation, and the BKIPM.

The team also involves the Inspectorate General and is supervised by the Secretary General. As long as the team does not follow the rules, Edhy emphasizes that they do not hesitate to revoke their permit.

"It was not me who decided either. (But) the team. But remember, I also control the team to follow the rules," said Edhy, during a joint meeting with Commission IV DPR RI, Monday, July 6.