Govt to Name Acting Papua Governor Following Lukas Enembe's Arrest

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD stated that the government would name an acting official to succeed Lukas Enembe as Governor of Papua following his arrest on corruption charges.

"Yes, there will be alternative measures. In principle, the government must not stall and its continuity must be assured," Mahfud noted at a press conference, as observed through the coordinating ministry's YouTube channel here, Wednesday.

He made assurance that the government is ready to take judicially appropriate alternative measures to respond to Enembe's legal cases.

"We have discussed this issue with the Home Affairs Ministry, the TNI commander, the police, the health ministry, and others. We have talked about this, just wait for the next step," the coordinating minister remarked.

Earlier, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Lukas Enembe and Director of PT Tabi Bangun Papua (TBP) Rijatono Lakka as suspects in bribery and gratification cases pertaining to infrastructure development in Papua where Enembe served as governor.

Lakka is suspected of providing Rp1 billion (US$64,000) for Enembe after winning the tender for three infrastructure projects organized by the Papuan provincial authority.

The three projects are the Entrop-Hamadi road improvement project valued at Rp14.8 billion (US$947,200), Rp13.3-billion (US$851,200) rehabilitation of integrated early-age educational institutions (PAUD) facilities, and the Indonesian Air Force outdoor shooting range facility improvement valued at Rp12.9 billion (US$825,600).

The KPK also suspected Lukas Enembe of receiving gratification valued at billions of rupiah. Investigations into the gratification are ongoing.

The anti-graft agency arrested Lakka on January 5, and he is expected to remain behind bars for at least 20 days until January 24.

ANTARA

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