Palace Asserts President Prabowo Will Not Intervene in ATR/BPN Official Sting Operation

The Deputy Minister of State Secretariat, Bambang Eko Suhariyando, has emphasised that President Prabowo Subianto will not intervene or interfere in the legal process regarding the sting operation (OTT) conducted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) within the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN).

Bambang ensured that the President adheres to the principle of fully delegating all legal matters to law enforcement agencies whenever state officials are entangled in legal issues. “Therefore, he will not want to interfere in such matters,” Bambang stated while providing a briefing at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Wednesday (16/9).

He also requested the public to remain patient and await the official results of the KPK’s investigation regarding the designation of suspects in the case. Regarding allegations involving the name of the Minister of ATR/BPN, Nusron Wahid, Bambang emphasised that such claims currently remain mere allegations. “Let us just wait for the KPK,” he added briefly.

Previously, the KPK identified eight suspects in a suspected bribery case within the Ministry of ATR/BPN. Four of them are allegedly trusted associates of Minister Nusron Wahid.

The Acting Director of Investigation at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, revealed the identities of four of these individuals during a press conference at the KPK Red and White Building on Tuesday (15/9). He identified ERW and MF, both private parties, as individuals suspected of being trusted associates of the minister.

To date, the KPK continues to investigate the role of each suspect and their involvement in the alleged bribery scheme occurring within the ministry. The KPK also clarified that the sting operation is suspected to be related to other forms of illicit receipts by state officials.