ICW Urges KPK To Investigate Edhy Prabowo's Money Laundering Allegation, Claims Preliminary Evidence Is In Court

Edhy Prabowo (Photo: DOK KPK)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been urged to immediately investigate allegations of money laundering (TPPU) committed by former Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo. This pressure came from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW).

"Ideally, at this time, the KPK should immediately issue an investigation warrant for the alleged money laundering crime committed by the perpetrators," said ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana in a written statement quoted on Friday, July 16.

Moreover, the initial evidence of the alleged money laundering offense committed by Edhy was seen during the trial process. "For example, the mode of using other parties as property buyers to disguise assets resulting from crimes or even borrowing the accounts of third people to receive bribes," said the anti-corruption activist.

However, Kurnia is also pessimistic that the KPK will investigate the alleged money laundering committed by the former Gerindra Party politician. The reason is that investigators who handled bribery cases for the export of fried shrimp or lobster seeds were disabled after being declared not to have passed the National Insight Test Assessment (TWK) as a condition for the transfer of employee status.

"However, back again, that's the public's expectation. However, the reality is that the investigators of the lobster seed export bribery case were fired through," he said.

One of the heads of the KPK Task Force (Kasatgas) who arrested Edhy was Novel Baswedan. He was one of 75 employees of the anti-corruption commission who did not pass the test.

Previously reported, Edhy Prabowo was sentenced to 5 years in prison for the bribery case for the export license for lobster seeds or fry. In addition, he was also sentenced to a fine of Rp. 400 million, subsidiary to 6 months in prison.

The panel of judges also decided an additional sentence for Edhy Prabowo with the obligation to pay compensation for the corruption crimes he committed amounting to Rp9.68 billion and US$77 thousand. If the replacement money is not paid, Edhy Prabowo will have to serve an additional 2 years in prison

In addition, the panel of judges in their decision also revoked Edhy Prabowo's right to be elected in public (political) positions for three years.

In this case, Edhy Prabowo is proven to have accepted a bribe of US$77 thousand from the Director of PT Dua Putra Perkasa Pratama (DPPP), Suharjito, in relation to the fried shrimp export permit.

In addition, he was also proven to have received Rp24,625,587,250 as part of the illegal profit from PT Aero Citra Kargo (ACK) related to the cost of sending fried fries cargo services from an exporter company.