Indonesia’s anti-corruption commission formally named the country’s fisheries minister as a suspect in taking bribes related to exports of lobster larvae, and alleged he used the money on a luxury shopping spree during a visit to the United States.
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo was arrested upon arrival at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport early Wednesday from a working visit to the U.S., the deputy chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission, Nurul Ghufron, told Kompas TV.
Prabowo apologized, saying, “I will be responsible for what I have done.”
He was later named as a suspect along with five other officials and a businessman for allegedly taking bribes in exchange for permits related to exports of lobster larvae and other commodities this year.
The anti-corruption commission, known in Indonesia by its acronym KPK, said Prabowo is accused of receiving at least 3.4 billion rupiah ($240,000) from several companies through his two personal assistants, who were also named as suspects, this month.
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(Photo: ZUME press)