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Edhy comes undone after rolling back predecessor’s policy
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The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named on Wednesday Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo a suspect for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for a lobster larvae exporting permit. (Tribunnews/Irwan Rismawan)
T
he decision by Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo to roll back his predecessor’s policy of banning the export of lobster larvae may prove to be his downfall.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Edhy, who has offered to resign as minister, and six other people suspects on Thursday in a bribery case that centers on the issuance of export permits for lobster larvae.
Edhy allegedly received kickbacks amounting to Rp 3.4 billion (US$240,000), some of which he allegedly spent during his working trip to Honolulu, Hawaii, in the United States between Nov. 21 and 23. He also allegedly received $100,000 from a lobster larvae exporting company, reportedly to secure export permits for the company.
The case is linked to the minister’s decision to allow the export of lobster larvae, which was formalized in Ministerial Regulation No. 12/2020 on May 4. The export ban was put in place by his predecessor Susi Pudjiastuti, who served in the ministerial post during President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s first term.
Following the issuance, Edhy established a due diligence team for lobster cultivation business permits, to which he assigned his staff members Andreau Pribadi Misata and Safri as chairman and deputy chairman.
In early October, PT Dua Putra Perkasa (DPP) director Suharjito met with Safri at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry’s office in Central Jakarta. According to the KPK, it was revealed that the export of lobster larvae could only be conducted through freight forwarder company PT Aero Citra Kargo (ACK) with a tariff of Rp 1,800 per larva following a deal between businessman Amiril Mukminin, Andreau and ACK manager Siswadi.
Suharjito also allegedly gave $100,000 to Edhy, reportedly in exchange for securing the export permit for his company.
