Former Minister Edhy Prabowo Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Edhy Prabowo, the former minister of marine and fisheries, claimed to be sad about the court’s ruling that sentenced him to five years in prison in the lobster seeds export graft case.

“I am sad that this result does not match the trial facts. But indeed, this is our judicial process,” said Edhy after undergoing a trial held virtually at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building in Jakarta, Thursday, July 15.

Edhy’s lawyer, Soesilo Aribowo, also claimed to be sad and disappointed. He underlined that his client had never received graft for the lobster seeds export as there was no solid evidence. Edhy was not the owner of the shipment company PT Aero Citra Kargo. “We are considering an appeal,” said Soesilo.

Edhy's statement contradicted his previous saying. After being questioned by the KPK on Monday, February 22, 2021, Edhy said he was ready to be sentenced to death if proven guilty. “Let alone death penalty, I am ready for more than it,” he said.

The panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced the former minister to a five-year jail time and a fine of Rp400 million which is replaceable with six months in prison. Edhy was proven to have accepted US$77,000 and Rp24.6 billion in bribes to speed up the process of granting the export permits for lobster seeds.

The judges also required Edhy Prabowo to pay compensation of US$77,000 and Rp9.8 billion and stripped off his rights of being elected to public office for three years after serving the principal criminal sentence.

Read: Prosecutors Demand 5 years Jail Time for Edhy Prabowo in Lobster Export Graft

M ROSSENO AJI