Deputy Minister Of Detention Specialist Ijazah Noel Arrested By KPK, This Is His Work

Deputy Minister of Manpower (Wamenaker) Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Manpower (Wamenaker) Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan was officially caught in a hand arrest operation (OTT) carried out by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The news was confirmed directly by the Deputy Chairperson of the KPK, Fitroh Rohcahyanto. "It's true (Wamenaker Immanuel Ebenezer was secured at the KPK OTT, ed)," he said when contacted on Thursday, August 21.

However, Fitroh has not disclosed the details of the location of the arrest or the case that became the basis of the silent operation. He only emphasized that the OTT took place on Wednesday night, August 20.

Immanuel Ebenezer, or familiarly called Noel, was born on July 22, 1975 in Riau. He studied higher education at Satya Negara Indonesia University and earned a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences in 2004.

Since the beginning of his career, Noel has been known as a social and political activist. His name emerged to the public when he became the Chairman of the Jokowi Mania Volunteers (JoMan) in the 2019 Presidential Election, a volunteer group that actively supports the Joko Widodo 'Ma'ruf Amin pair.

His career then penetrated the BUMN business circle. In June 2021, he was appointed President Commissioner of PT Mega Eltra, a subsidiary of PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero). However, his position only lasted briefly because in March 2022 his term ended.

Ahead of the 2024 election, Noel made a surprising political step by switching to support the Prabowo Subianto 'Gibran Rakabuming Raka and officially joining the Gerindra Party. He even had time to run as a candidate for legislature from the North Kalimantan electoral district, although he failed to make it to Senayan.

After Prabowo Gibran's victory, Immanuel was appointed to the ranks of the Red and White Cabinet as Deputy Minister of Manpower for the 2024 period, 2029 accompanying Minister Yassierli.

In this position, he is known to often break old rules and go directly to the field. One of his breakthroughs is to comb through the practice of detention of employee diplomas that are still happening in various regions.

He even issued an official circular that strictly prohibited the practice. His reputation as an outspoken and brave official made him often in the spotlight.

The life story of Noel is increasingly attracting public attention because before entering politics, he once earns sustenance as an online motorcycle taxi driver. This simple background makes him often referred to as a person who is close to the lower class.

With a long track record stretching from the streets as activists, political volunteers, commissioners of SOEs, to the chair of Deputy Minister, the KPK's arrest of Immanuel Ebenezer has now caused a major shock.

The public is waiting for the clarity of the case that ensnared him and his impact on the Red and White Cabinet under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto.