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1. Indonesian Minister Named as Suspect in Covid-19 Social Aid Graft

Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Sunday named Social Affairs Minister Juliari P Batubara as a suspect in an alleged graft case related to the Covid-19 social assistance.

Juliari has been named as the suspect following a sting operation carried out by the KPK in early Friday.

State News Antara reported that Juliari arrived in the KPK building on Sunday at around 2.45am local time. Clad in a black jacket, brown pants, a black hat, and a mask, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician was accompanied by several KPK officers when entering the building.

Juliari had allegedly accepted about 17 billion rupiahs ($1.2 million) in bribes, which was allegedly used for personal purposes, KPK said.

“The KPK has named five suspects. The alleged bribe-takers are JPB, MJS, and AW. While the alleged bribe givers comprise AIM and HS,” KPK chairman Firli Bahuri told a press conference in the early hours of Sunday, December 6.

Firli said that MJS and AW serve as the Commitment Making Officials at the Social Affairs Ministry, while AIM and HS are the representatives of the private sector.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2020/12/06/095750074/indonesian-minister-named-as-suspect-in-covid-19-social-aid-graft.