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KPK raids Social Affairs Ministry for probe into rice-aid corruption
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has launched an investigation into the Social Affairs Ministry, which is currently led by Tri “Risma” Rismaharini of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), in connection to an alleged corruption case related to the distribution of the government-funded rice assistance.
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Desperate times: Workers prepare government social assistance at a warehouse in Cipinang, East Jakarta, on May 15, 2020. The packages contain staple food and basic commodities to be distributed to low-income families across the capital to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has launched an investigation into the Social Affairs Ministry, which is currently led by Tri “Risma” Rismaharini of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), in connection to an alleged corruption related to the distribution of the government-funded rice assistance.
Investigators came to the ministry in Jakarta on Tuesday without prior notice and raided the office of social empowerment director general for eight hours to seize documents and electronic devices, ministry spokesperson Don Rozano Sigit said.
“We welcomed them and we cooperatively complied with requests made by the KPK team of investigators," Don said on Wednesday, adding that, as instructed by Risma, the ministry would continue to fully cooperate with the KPK.
KPK spokesperson Ali Fikri has confirmed the raid, saying that it was part of the agency’s probe into the corruption case related to the distribution of rice to recipients of the government-funded social assistance Family Hope Program (PKH) from 2020 to 2021.
"In time, we will announce those who have been named as suspects, the construction of the case in a complete manner, including the applied articles," Ali said in his statement on Tuesday.
He added that during the raid investigators had found various documents and files related to the case, and that the confiscated evidence would be further analyzed by the graft-busting agency.
In a press conference earlier on Wednesday, the minister said upon receiving information that the KPK was searching the office of the directorate general in question, she immediately suspected that “the investigation is related to BGR.”
