Minister of Public Works says his office was searched by prosecutors

Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo stated that his office up to the Deputy Minister’s (Wamen) office Diana Kusumastuti was searched by officers from the Jakarta High Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday (9/4). “Yes (the Minister’s and Deputy Minister’s offices were searched by Jakarta High Prosecutor’s Office officers). So, like this, I gave permission to the investigators to search all the rooms in the Ministry of Public Works,” Dody said during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday. He emphasised that the step was taken to avoid any impression of selective enforcement, while also showing the commitment of the entire Public Works Ministry apparatus to be cooperative in facing the legal process. “Because I am also confident that the entire apparatus in the Public Works Ministry also wants to show that they are fine, meaning it’s okay to be searched,” Dody said. He mentioned that the investigators were initially cautious about entering the minister’s room because of his position as the President’s aide, so he felt the need to first seek special permission from President Prabowo Subianto. “But perhaps because they wanted to enter the minister’s domain, the minister being one of the President’s aides, the investigators might have been a bit worried, that’s why I then requested special permission from Mr President,” he explained. He then directly reported to Prabowo Subianto regarding the plan to give full access to the investigators to enter all rooms, including the minister’s office. “I said to Mr President, ‘Sir, I request permission to give leeway to all investigators to enter anyone’s room. So there is no impression of selective enforcement. If I am indeed at fault, then I am at fault.’ That’s it,” he revealed. In the communication, he recounted that the President gave a positive response and immediately approved the request, even though he was not in Jakarta at the time, and fully supported efforts for openness in the investigation process. “(The President said) yes, it’s okay to give permission. I just requested permission from him. Sir, I request permission to give, to give access to all investigators to enter all rooms in this ministry building, including the Public Works Minister’s room. (The President said) okay, like that,” Dody stated. Nevertheless, Dody emphasised that he did not want to interfere with the ongoing legal process and chose to fully entrust it to law enforcement authorities to conduct the investigation professionally and independently. Dody also admitted he did not know the type of criminal case related to the search at his ministry. He also admitted he did not know in detail the items seized in the search, including documents or other devices taken from several rooms in the ministry. “I also deliberately did not want to ask for more details, because I consider that it’s up to the law enforcement apparatus, so I don’t want to know further,” he said. However, he mentioned that several documents were taken by the investigators, especially those related to audit results and notes in several work units of the ministry. Including one PC unit on the third floor of the Directorate General of Human Settlements building. “But the details I forgot because there were too many documents, whatever was on my desk. But the computer was not taken (in my rooms). So I hope my computer is taken so I can have a new one, but it turns out it wasn’t taken,” Dody revealed. The search was conducted in several rooms including the Directorate General of Human Settlements, as well as the Directorate General of Water Resources. He also reaffirmed that his side provided full support to the investigators’ needs, including providing documents or additional data required to expedite the ongoing legal process. Dody added that the step of opening wide access to investigators is part of the Public Works Ministry’s commitment to maintaining transparency, accountability, and integrity in managing the state budget.