Indonesia removes deputy minister named in graft case

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Indonesian deputy minister Immanuel Ebenezer allegedly participated in extorting parties seeking workplace safety certificates.

PHOTO: INDONESIAN POP BASE/X

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has signed a decree dismissing Immanuel Ebenezer from his position as Deputy Manpower Minister after being named a suspect in an extortion case, the first sitting member of his cabinet to be involved in an anti-corruption investigation.

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said late on Aug 22 that all legal procedures regarding the case will run as they should, underscoring the President’s intention to fight against corruption.

Ebenezer

allegedly participated in extorting parties

The deputy minister allegedly got 3 billion rupiah (S$238,000) in kickbacks in December 2024 for his involvement, Mr Budiyanto said. He was caught, along with about a dozen others, in a sting operation that started on Wednesday night. Ebenezer will be detained for 20 days for further investigation.

Ebenezer denied his involvement in the extortion and said he hopes to get clemency from the president, local media reported.

The incident will be a test for Mr Prabowo, who in his annual national address last week said he would not tolerate corruption, even among big-name politicians and allies. Ebenezer previously led a pro-Prabowo volunteer group and is now a member of the president’s Gerindra party.

The issue quickly reverberated in Jakarta on Aug 21 when news broke about the sting