Despite external forces trying their best to discredit and weaken Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the independent anti-graft body is soldiering on in its fight against corruption, yesterday announcing the high-profile arrest of one of the country’s most decorated governors.
On Tuesday afternoon, the KPK arrested Bengkulu Governor Ridwan Mukti, his wife Lily Maddari, and three others, believed to be contractors. The arrest was a sting operation in which the KPK reportedly first arrested Lily after she allegedly accepted an Rp 1 billion (US$ 75,000) bribe from contractors for a project before arresting Ridwan himself, though it’s not yet been confirmed if he was implicated in the bribery. The KPK also secured the money, which was put in a cardboard box.
The five detainees were transported to KPK’s headquarters in Jakarta for interrogation, but none have yet been officially named graft suspects by the commission. The KPK have also not released further details regarding the operation to the public yet.
“We are going to investigate them first before determining their criminal status. The KPK has 24 hours to interrogate them,” KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah told CNN Indonesia yesterday.
If the KPK has evidence that Ridwan, who took the governor’s office in 2016, is implicated in the bribery, then it would shatter his stellar reputation as a well respected, award-winning Indonesian leader. The governor’s CV in the Bengkulu province’s official website lists dozens of impressive public service awards that he has won, such as for increasing rice production output in his region and for improving his region’s infrastructure during his 10-year stint as regent of Musi Rawas (2005-2015).
Most ironically, the CV also lists Ridwan as a recipient for Penghargaan Akhlak Mulia (Noble Morals Award) in 2007, though it’s not known who actually gave that award.
Though common sense would suggest otherwise, there is still a chance that Ridwan may not be implicated in his wife’s bribery case. There’s already a precedent in Indonesia for a high-ranking official to stay in office despite their spouse being convicted of corruption, namely South Tangerang Mayor Airin Rachmy Diany who did not resign from her position and was even re-elected in 2015 despite her husband being sentenced to 7 years in jail in 2014 for bribing a Constitutional Court judge.
If anyone deserves a Noble Morals Award, it’s the KPK. The anti-graft body has been rattling many politicians’ cages lately, most notably with their investigation into the enormous e-KTP (electronic ID cards) corruption scandal, which allegedly involves dozens of politicians and lawmakers across many political parties.
Their continued crackdown on corruption, as exemplified by yesterday’s arrests, despite parliament threatening to freeze their budget after accusing the KPK of “unprofessional behavior” for the e-KTP investigation, is one of the few things giving Indonesians hope in these graft-ridden times.
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