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resolute Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has made a second high-profile arrest this week, adding to the impression that corruption is still common practice in the country.

On Thursday, the antigraft body named the Transportation Ministry’s sea transportation director general, Antonius Tonny Budiono, a suspect in a bribery case, along with Adiputra Kurniawan, a commissioner of dredging company PT Adhi Guna Keruktama.

The two were nabbed in different places in Central Jakarta on Wednesday evening and on Thursday afternoon.

“Antonius has allegedly received money from Adiputra in connection with the [issuance of] a dredging permit for the construction of the Tanjung Mas harbor in Semarang,” deputy KPK chairwoman Basaria Pandjaitan told a press conference on Thursday.

During the arrests, the antigraft body confiscated ATM cards of various banks and 33 bags filled with money in different currencies, including Indonesian rupiah, US dollars and British pound sterling.

“The total alleged bribes we have found so far are around Rp 20 billion [US$1.5 million],” Basaria said, adding that the two suspects had allegedly agreed that Adiputra would wire the money to new bank accounts he set up under fake identities.

“Adiputra gave ATM cards for the new accounts to Antonius and later transferred the illicit money to those accounts. The director general [Antonius] later used the accounts for various transactions,” Basaria added.

The KPK team also questioned three people as witnesses — Antonius’ subordinate at the ministry, identified only as W, and the dredging company’s director as well as its financial manager, identified as DG and S, respectively. The KPK has released all the witnesses but detained the suspects.

The investigators, Basaria added, were digging into the possibility of other projects being marred with graft, given that the suspected bribe occurred in the fiscal year of 2016-2017.

The KPK has also sealed several rooms believed to contain evidence, namely Antonius’ residence and an office at the Transportation Ministry.

The two arrests by the antigraft body follow another two on Monday, when KPK investigators arrested lower court clerk Tarmizi and lawyer Akhmad Zaini for alleged bribery aimed at influencing the outcome of a civil lawsuit.

Antonius’ arrest is reminding the public of a blow to the Transportation Ministry in 2015 that saw Antonius’ predecessor, Bobby R. Mamahit, sent to prison for five years for his role in a botched construction project in Sorong, West Papua, valued at Rp 40 billion.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi expressed his disappointment over the alleged misconduct and said he appreciated the KPK’s stern action.

“The ministry basically is committed to its anticorruption campaign, in which efforts have been made by the ministry [since Bobby’s case],” Budi said.

“I hope this will give us the momentum to further eradicate any graft attempts at the ministry,” said Budi, pledging to support the ongoing KPK investigation.

Antonius’ case adds to a long list of top-level government officials implicated in graft cases over the past few years.

Last May, the antigraft body named the Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry’s inspector general Sugito a suspect for allegedly bribing auditors of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) to obtain an “unqualified (WTP)” opinion — the best audit category — for the ministry’s 2016 budget report. (kuk)