Indicted For Accepting Bribes Of Rp. 25.7 Billion, Edhy Prabowo: From The Start I Was Not Guilty

Edhy Prabowo (DOK ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Edhy Prabowo, is charged with accepting bribes of up to tens of billions of rupiah to speed up the granting of lobster cultivation permits and export permits for lobster or fry. But Edhy Prabowo still pleaded not guilty in this case.

"I was from the beginning when I entered here I was innocent. Only, I am responsible for what happened in my ministry," Edhy told reporters at the Red and White KPK building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, April 15.

Edhy Prabowo emphasized that he would not run away from his responsibilities and was ready to follow the legal process in this case. Not only that, he admitted that he was ready to prove his innocence.

"It has been read, has been charged, I have heard. Just ask for prayer, I just have to face it in court later," he said.

"I hope that the best decisions will be made," added the former Gerindra Party politician.

Previously reported, Edhy was charged with accepting a bribe of up to Rp25.7 billion. This bribe is related to the export license for lobster or fry.

"Committing or participating in several acts which must be viewed as an independent act so that it constitutes several crimes, having received gifts or promises," said the prosecutor reading out the indictment at the Corruption Court, Central Jakarta, Thursday, April 15.

The bribe was received by Edhy Prabowo from fry exporters through Amiril Mukminin, Safri, Ainul Faqih, Andreau Misanta Pribadi, and Siswadhi Pranoto Loe.

In his dakwan, Edhy received a bribe of 77 thousand United States (US) dollars or if converted into a current amount of Rp1,126,921,950. The acceptance of the bribe was through his staff, namely Safri and Amiril Mukminin from the owner of PT Dua Putera Perkasa Pratama (PT DPP), Suharjito.

Then, Edhy also received money amounting to Rp24,625,587,250. This money was provided by Suharjito and other exporters through his staff.

"It is reasonable to suspect that the gift or promise was given to motivate him to do or not do something in his position," said the prosecutor.

The bribes were also given after Edhy Prabowo issued a policy to lift the ban on catching or releasing lobsters, crabs and crabs in Indonesian territory.

"The defendant as the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia wishes to give permission to manage and cultivate lobster and export of clear loster seeds (BBL) by issuing a policy to revoke the Regulation of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia Number 56 / PERMEN-KP / 2016 dated December 23, 2016 concerning the Prohibition The arrest and / or release of Lobster (Panulirus spp), Crab (Scylla spp) and Ranjungan (Portunus spp) from the territory of the Republic of Indonesia, "said the prosecutor.

With the receipt of the bribe, Edhy was charged with violating Article 11 of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Corruption as amended by Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts. Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 65 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.