Written by Lisa Murimi
Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested Deputy Manpower Minister Immanuel Ebenezer in connection with an ongoing corruption investigation, the agency confirmed on Thursday.
Fitroh Rohcahyanto, the deputy head of the KPK, said Immanuel’s arrest was linked to alleged irregularities in the ministry’s issuance of safety permits, though he declined to provide further details. It is not yet clear whether the deputy minister has been formally charged.
Immanuel, a senior member of President Prabowo Subianto’s Gerindra party, is the first member of the new cabinet to be arrested on graft allegations. Prabowo, who assumed office in October, has repeatedly pledged to root out corruption both within his government and across the country.
The manpower ministry did not immediately comment on the arrest, and Reuters reported it was unable to reach Immanuel’s lawyer for a response.
The case comes against the backdrop of Indonesia’s ongoing struggle with corruption. Last year, Transparency International ranked the country 99th out of 180 in its global Corruption Perceptions Index, underscoring the persistence of graft despite repeated reform pledges by successive governments.
