Former Indonesian Agriculture Minister, Syahrul Yasin Limpo, was arrested by the country’s anti-graft commission on allegations of bribery, abuse of power, and fraud related to contracts with private vendors. Limpo had already resigned from his position to focus on his legal case. He was formally named as a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and was seen arriving at the KPK’s office in handcuffs. Limpo’s lawyer expressed disappointment with the forceful arrest, stating that Limpo had planned to cooperate with the investigation.
Limpo had missed an earlier appointment with the KPK, claiming he was visiting his parents, but later returned to Jakarta. If charged, this incident could further damage President Joko Widodo’s efforts to combat corruption in his government. Several other members of Widodo’s Cabinet have faced corruption charges, and this could undermine his goal of clean governance as he looks for a successor when his term ends in 2024.
KPK’s deputy chairman, Johanis Tanak, revealed that Limpo is suspected of receiving approximately 13.9 billion rupiah ($885,000) in bribes through subordinates, and the amount involved may increase as the investigation progresses. Limpo is accused of instructing officials at his ministry to pay him for promotions and procurement project involvement, with the money coming from the ministry’s budget. He also received bribes from private vendors who were awarded ministry projects.
The case against Limpo, as well as another politician from the Nasdem Party, Johnny G. Plate, is expected to affect Nasdem’s chances in the 2024 elections. Despite being part of the ruling coalition, Nasdem endorsed an opposition politician, Anies Baswedan, for the presidential race, causing friction with President Joko Widodo. The KPK spokesperson denied any political motives behind the case and highlighted the commission’s track record of pursuing corruption cases across the political spectrum.
, an independent military force, and allied militias in Sudan raped several dozen women and girls in West Darfur’s capital, El Geneina, and those fleeing to Chad between late April and late June 2023, Human Rights Watch said today. The assailants appear to have targeted people because of their Massalit ethnicity and, in some cases, because they were known activists.){kind=link}