Examined In Online Gambling Case, Budi Arie: As A Citizen Of A State Obeying The Law, I Must Help The Police

Former Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) Budi Arie Setiadi spoke to the media crew at the Bareskrim Polri Building, Jakarta, Thursday (19/12/2024) afternoon. ANTARA/Nadia Putri Rahmani

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) Budi Arie Setiadi said that he was examined as a witness regarding the online gambling case involving elements from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi).

"As a law-abiding citizen, I am obliged to assist the police in completing the eradication of the gambling case in the Komdigi neighborhood," Budi Arie said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, December 19.

He was examined for two hours by investigators. However, regarding the substance of the investigation, he was reluctant to reveal it.

"Regarding the material and the contents of the information I gave today, please ask the competent investigators," he said.

Budi also said that his presence today is in the context of eradicating online gambling which is increasingly rife in Indonesia.

"Eradication of gamblingline is our common task as fellow children of the nation. Therefore, consistency and determination are needed for completion, eradication of gambling, especially in protecting the community," he said.

Previously, the Deputy Head of the Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortastipidkor) of the National Police, Brigadier General Arief Adiharsa, confirmed that Budi Arie was being questioned by the corps investigators.

This examination was carried out after Polda Metro Jaya dismantled a gambling case involving Komdigi employees.

In that case, the Directorate of General Criminal Investigation of the Metro Jaya Police has named 28 suspects.

"In total, we arrested 24 suspects and named four people as DPOs," said Metro Jaya Police Chief Inspector General Karyoto.