Govt Official Arrested over Alleged Covid-19 Social Assistance Graft Case in Indonesia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has apprehended an official at the Ministry of Social Affairs and several other people for alleged bribery in the Covid-19 social assistance case.

KPK chairman Firli Bahuri confirmed on Saturday, December 5 that the official and other people were arrested during a sting operation.

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“Yes, the KPK investigators have indeed arrested the perpetrators in a raid from Friday to Saturday at 2am local time,” Firli said in a statement.

“The officer serves as Commitment Making Official (PPK) for the Social Assistance Program at the Ministry of Social Affairs,” he added.

Firli explained that the official is suspected of receiving gifts from the vendors for the Social Assistance Program to alleviate the burden of the people amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

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He said the KPK investigators have brought them to the anti-graft body headquarters in South Jakarta.

“Please give us time to work first, KPK will provide more details. Thank you,” added Firli.

It was reported that the government has allocated a budget ceiling of 134 trillion rupiahs ($9.5 billion) for the Ministry of Social Affairs in the 2020 budget year. The fund aims to support the social protection program, including those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

(Writer: Dian Erika Nugraheny | Editor: Jessi Carina)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/12/05/10052961/ott-kpk-tangkap-pejabat-kemensos.