How Romantic The 'Pope' To Give Luxury Items As Anniversary Present From Corruption

Edhy Prabowo (Photo: KPK Public Relations)

JAKARTA - The former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo and his wife, Iis Rosita Dewi, and several other parties were presented by the prosecutor as witnesses in the trial for alleged bribery for the export license of lobster or fries.

During the trial with the accused, Director of PT Dua Putera Perkasa Pratama (DPPP), Suharjito, several new facts emerged. For example, the code 'Pope' as a substitute for the name Edhy Prabowo to the former Minister's romance with his wife.

The code was revealed when Civil Servants (PNS) at the Directorate General of Marine Space Management of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Andhika Anjaresta testified in court.

The code was used by Amiril Mukminis, Edhy Prabowo's personal secretary (sespri) when communicating with him. The use of the code was revealed in a discussion regarding the purchase of a Rolex watch.

Initially, the public prosecutor (JPU) questioned the code used by Andhika and Amiril. Then the witness explained that the use of the two codes began when Secretary Edhy Prabowo sent a voice message to him.

"I got a voice note from Amiril when I opened the contents, please find a Rolex. Then I asked what Rolex was, (answered) the watch, he said," Andhika said in a trial at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Wednesday, March 17.

Not only sending voice messages, but Amiril also sent some chilling photos of the clock. Andhika, who did not understand the meaning of the message, questioned the allocation of the clock.

"Then the pictures were sent. I asked who it was for," said Andhika.

"Then (answered) for 'pope'," continued Andhika imitating Amiril's answer.

Andhika at that time questioned the meaning of the code 'Pope'. He confirmed that the pope in question was Edhy Prabowo, who was then Minister of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

"The Pope (is) the minister?" Andhika said.

"Yes, for the minister," continued Andhika, again imitating Amiril's answer.

Hearing that answer, the prosecutor confirmed the figure of the pope in question.

"The Pope is a minister, isn't it?" asked the prosecutor.

"Minister, sir," replied Andhika.

Meanwhile, the use of the code 'leaves the yellow' begins when Andhika has obtained the requested Rolex watch. He contacted Amiril to immediately send the money for the payment for the hour. The nominal is around IDR 700 million.

Until finally, a few days later Amiril contacted Andhika. In that communication, the code is used.

"A few days later Amiril said 'The leaves are there for the yellow one'," said Andhika.

The prosecutor again confirmed the meaning of the code. Andhika said that the perception of the leaf code was money.

"Earlier there were leaves for the yellow one, what does it mean?" asked the prosecutor.

"We mean that the money to pay Rolex is already there," said Andhika.

Another fact that emerged during the trial process was about Edhy Prabowo's romance with his wife. Iis Rosita Dewi, who also testified at the trial, said that her husband had given her a Rolex watch.

The Rolex watch was given when Iis joined the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) working group to Hawaii, United States.

Iis conveyed this admission when answering the prosecutor's (JPU) question about whether there was a gift while they were in Hawaii.

"Did the witness ever receive a Rolex watch from Edhy too?" asked the prosecutor

"Yes, I received it when I was in Hawaii, in the hotel," answered Iis.

The prosecutor tried to elaborate on Iis's statement by asking again where the watch came from. But Iis admitted that he didn't know anything.

"(The watch) It was bought in Hawaii?" asked the prosecutor.

"I don't know exactly what it is, but Mr. Edhy when he handed it over, (said) this is the Anniversary Present," Iis replied.

Although not knowing the origin of the watch, Iis said that she caught her husband buying a Rolex watch. He watched Edhy's payment process using a credit card belonging to Ainul Faqih, who was his staff.

"I witnessed it when Mr. Edhy bought a Rolex, but even then from afar. It seems like using Ainul's card along with cash. But I also don't see it up close," said Iis.

Not only revealing the romance of her husband, but Iis also mentioned that Edhy had asked for 50 thousand United States (US) dollars a few days before leaving for Hawaii. The money is also used by him for shopping.

"I forgot the day before or two days before. But before leaving, in the house, Mr. Edhy handed over 50 thousand US dollars, in cash to me," answered Iis.

The money is also used to buy Rolex watches. But the watch was intended for his parents as a birthday present.

"When I was in Los Angeles, I walked into a Rolex store, I deliberately intended (to buy) it because for my mother's birthday present, (the watch) which is silver gold costs around 18 thousand (US dollars), that's from the cash that I had," explained Iis.

In addition, Iis also had time to shop at several fashion stores owned by designers Salvatore Ferragamo, Calvin Klein, and Hermes.

But at Salvatore Ferragamo and Calvin Klein's stores, she mentions buying only discount items. This is because the items she bought were intended as gifts to her colleagues.

"I bought a gift for my friends, I bought two sweaters, the price was around USD 500," she said.

"As far as I can remember, because it was on sale at the end of the year, as far as I remember, it might not have reached 1000 US dollars, maybe around 300 to 500 US dollars spent there," she continued.

While at the Hermes shop, Iis shopped for a bag worth USD 2,600. Later, he also bought a scarf. But Iis did not clearly remember the price of the scarf. It's just that, in total, the two items cost USD 7,100.

However, the shopping items did not use the money given by Eddy. Instead, using a BNI Emerald credit card owned by the Acting Director-General of Capture Fisheries, Muhammad Zaini Hanafi.

"When I went to the cashier, I would pay, then Mr. Zaini handed over the card directly. So I already wanted to pay, and at that time I saw Mr. Edhy, and he, my husband, talking to me, 'It's okay Mom because the cash that you hold is still required to pay other payments. Later we will collect it at home," said Iis.

For information, in this case, the Director of PT. Dua Putera Perkasa Pratama (PT. DPP), Suharjito, was charged with bribing the former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Edhy Prabowo in the amount of IDR 2.1 billion. The bribe is related to the export license for lobster or fry.

"Defendant Suharjito has committed several acts that have such a relationship that it must be seen as a continuing act, namely giving or promising something, namely giving something in the form of a total of USD 103 thousand and IDR 706,055,440 to Civil Servants or State Administrators, namely to Edhy Prabowo as Minister. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia (KP-RI Minister)," said KPK prosecutor Siswandono in a trial at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Thursday, February 11.

The amount of bribes amounting to IDR 2.1 billion represents the accumulated money given. This is because, if converted to Rupiah, 103 thousand United States (US) dollars are worth IDR 1,441,799,150 or around IDR 1.4 billion.

The indictment also states that Suharjito gave bribes to Edhy Prabowo through the special staff of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Safri and Andrau Misanta Pribadi. In addition, the name of Edhy's Personal Secretary, Amiril Mukminin, and Ainul Faqih as the personal staff of Edhy Prabowo's wife, namely, Iis Rosita Dewi, were also written.

Suharjito was charged with Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or Article 13 of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.