Police Arrest Two Former Ministry of Agriculture Employees, Suspected of Embezzling Billions in Official Travel Allowances
Former employees of the Ministry of Agriculture who have been designated as suspects in a corruption case involving Rp5.94 billion, based on an audit by the Financial and Development Supervision Agency (BPKP) of Jakarta, have been detained by police.
“It is correct that suspects IM and suspect DS were secured in the Tanjung Raja District area, Ogan Ilir Regency, South Sumatra,” said Head of Public Relations for Metro Jaya Police, Police Commissioner Budi Hermanto, on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
Budi explained that suspect IM was arrested on Monday, 9 March 2026, and DS was arrested on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.
“Both of them are currently being held at the Metro Jaya Police detention facility,” he said.
Previously, investigators from Metro Jaya Police stated that the state loss resulting from the alleged corruption case involving former Ministry of Agriculture employees reached Rp5.94 billion, based on an audit by the BPKP of Jakarta.
Budi said the case originated from an official complaint submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture to Metro Jaya Police, accompanied by the audit results from the BPKP of Jakarta.
“There was a complaint from one ministry/institution to Metro Jaya Police, accompanied by the audit results from the BPKP of Jakarta, with losses related to Official Travel Permits amounting to Rp9 billion,” Budi said.
He added that investigators discovered state losses of Rp5.94 billion when conducting further examination, questioning witnesses, examining evidence and conducting a subsequent audit.
He also emphasised that there were no extortion practices by investigators in handling the alleged corruption case involving the former Ministry of Agriculture employees.
All legal processes, including the determination of state losses, Budi said, were conducted based on official audit results.
He explained that investigators subsequently conducted further examination by questioning witnesses and examining evidence, as well as conducting a subsequent audit. Currently, investigators have designated two suspects, each identified by the initials IM and DS.
The alleged corruption offence occurred between 2020 and 2024, and investigations remain ongoing.
“Currently, there are two suspects, Miss IM and Mr DS. This incident occurred between 2020 and 2024, and the investigation process is still ongoing,” Budi said.