The arrest of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs Minister Edhy Prabowo and members of his inner circle in the early hours of Wednesday by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has sent shock waves through the capital’s political circles and could test the limits of the relationship between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his former rival in the 2019 presidential election Prabowo Subianto, who currently serves as Defense Minister.

KPK investigators moved to arrest Edhy, considered by many to be one of Prabowo's most trusted aides, soon after he landed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten, from his official visit to the United States. Also arrested was Edhy's wife Iis Rosita Dewi.

He was later named as a suspect, along with five other officials, for allegedly taking bribes and gratuities in exchange for the issuance of permits related to the aquaculture industry and other fisheries commodities this year.

“KPK has named a total of seven suspects in this case, EP [Edhy Prabowo] as the recipient [of gratuities],” said Nawawi Pomolango, deputy chairman of the commission, in a press conference held just moments before midnight on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com.

KPK officials previously confirmed Edhy's arrest in a sting operation at around 1.23 a.m. on Wednesday. He had been on a working visit to the US starting on Nov. 17 and his itinerary included a trip to the Oceanic Institute of the Pacific University Hawaii where he was reported to have signed an agreement on biotechnology.

Besides Edhy, the other five suspects named are Safri, a special staffer to the minister; Siswadi, a manager at PT Aero Citra Kargo; Ainul Faqih, a staffer to the minister’s wife; Andreau Pribadi Misata, another ministry special staffer; and someone named Amiril Mukminin.

They all face charges for allegedly violating the 2001 Corruption Law, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a Rp 1 billion fine.

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