Indonesia Highlights: Govt Official Arrested over Alleged Covid-19 Social Aid Graft | No Change to Electricity Prices Next Year | No Mask, No Ballot

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Indonesian anti-graft body continues to arrest officials for alleged involvement in corruption cases.

The latest official who was apprehended by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) serves as Commitment Making Official at the Ministry of Social Affairs. Along with other perpetrators, the official was brought to the KPK headquarters for further investigation.

The perpetrators were accused of receiving gifts from the vendors for the Social Assistance Program, which aims to alleviate the burden of the people amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

In other news, the government will keep power tariffs unchanged next year. This decision will affect households, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), small businesses, small industries, and social activities.

Below are excerpts from the stories in Indonesia, curated by Kompas.com editors:

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

Dokumentasi/KPK The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Firli Bahuri (center) attends the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministers Meeting which is held virtually on Thursday, October 22, 2020.

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.

“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.

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

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2020/12/05/231247774/govt-official-arrested-over-alleged-covid-19-social-assistance-graft-case-in