The former Minister of Youth and Sports, Imam Nahrawi, became suspect of gratification. (Image via Jawa Pos)

Indonesian Minister of Youth & Sports resigned from cabinet due to corruption charge

On Wednesday (18/9), Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced two names as its latest corruption case of gratification from the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI) back in 2018. The suspects are the Minister of Youth and Sports, Imam Nahrawi (IMR), and his personal assistant, Miftahul Ulum (MIU).

“The KPK, after the investigation, named two suspects, IMR and MIU,” said Deputy of KPK, Alexander Marwata, at his office.

The result of the investigation stated that the sports minister received Rp 26.5 billion (US$1.9 million) bribery from KONI and Satlak Prima (Gold Program), a program dissolved in 2018. From MIU, IMR received Rp14.7 billion in 2014 -2018.

However, further investigation indicated that IMR also received Rp11.8 billion in 2016 – 2018. Therefore, IMR violated KPK regulations and abused his power for his personal interest. In total, IMR received as much as Rp 26.5 billion of gratification.

Nahrawi became one of the ministers bribed by KONI. In December 2018, KPK discovered that KONI had bribed several ministers to manipulate more state funds to the committee.

By Thursday morning, the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, generally known as “Jokowi”, said that he had received Nahrawi’s resignation letter from his ministerial position. President furthermore stated that he honored KPK’s decision to detain Nahrawi for the gratification case.

“I already received his resignation letter… I respect KPK’s decision for [Imam’s] suspect naming in relation to the misuse of the KONI grant,” said the President.

This was the second time for Indonesian Youth and Sports Ministry to be stained by corruption cases. The first corruption case in the Ministry was discovered in 2012, involving Andi Mallarangeng, the Minister of Youth and Sport at that time.

Mallarangeng received Rp 2 billion gratifications in the Hambalang sports facility construction saga. The former Presidential Spokesperson was fined Rp 200 million and sentenced to 4-year-imprisonment in 2014.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1249722/imam-nahrawi-resigns-from-govt-following-corruption-charges?TerkiniUtama&campaign=TerkiniUtama_Click_3