In Indonesia, corruption detainees and lawmakers' families are among people on the recipient list during the second phase of the national COVID-19 vaccination drive.
he inoculation of corruption suspects and families of lawmakers has prompted allegations of favoritism amid shortages in supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine.
After inoculating medical workers in the first phase, the government has rolled out the second phase of its COVID-19 vaccination drive. Authorities are targeting around 38 million people, including the elderly, athletes and public service and essential workers between February and May.
However, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) recently made headlines for distributing vaccines to graft suspects in its custody.
The antigraft body is currently holding 61 graft suspects in detention centers at and near its headquarters in South Jakarta.
According to the commission’s statement, 39 detainees received their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, including former Cabinet ministers Juliari Batubara and Edhy Prabowo.
The KPK arrested then-social affairs minister Juliari in December last year for his alleged role in a graft case pertaining to the distribution of COVID-19 social aid. Meanwhile, former maritime affairs and fisheries minister Edhy was named a suspect in late November 2020 for allegedly accepting bribes pertaining to lobster larvae export permits.
KPK spokesperson Ali Fikri said the vaccination drive for the detainees occurred between Feb. 18 and Tuesday, when vaccinators also inoculated 1,738 KPK employees. He added that the remaining detainees did not receive the first dose of the vaccine for health reasons.
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