Dozens of Indonesian graft suspects get COVID-19 jabs

Graft suspect former Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara getting his COVID-19 vaccine shot on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. Photo: KPK
Graft suspect former Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara getting his COVID-19 vaccine shot on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. Photo: KPK

Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has administered COVID-19 vaccines to 39 graft detainees, the anti-graft body confirmed, as it seeks to prevent an outbreak of the disease at its facilities.

KPK spokesman Ali Fikri said 61 graft suspects currently in its custody were scheduled to be given the COVID-19 vaccine along with the agency’s directors and employees from Feb. 18 to Feb. 23.

“We have vaccinated 39 detainees, while the vaccination of the remaining 22 were postponed for health reasons,” Ali said.

KPK did not disclose the names of the vaccinated detainees, but from photos the agency handed out, it appeared that former Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara was among those who received their shot.

Juliari was arrested in December 2020 for alleged embezzlement of COVID-19 relief funds.

Also Read — Corrupt cabinet ministers deserve death penalty: deputy justice minister

While graft suspects getting vaccinated ahead of the general public in Indonesia may be a point of controversy, doing so may offer the necessary protection for Indonesia’s graft-busters from the disease due to their close interaction with suspects.

Indonesia is currently in the second phase of its mass vaccination program, during which the elderly and people in the public service sector will be given their shots over the coming months before vaccines are made available to the general public.



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