Indonesia anti-corruption chief Firli Bahuri suspected of extortion
- Published
Firli Bahuri, chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission
The head of Indonesia's anti-corruption agency has been named as a suspect in an extortion case.
Police said there was enough evidence to link Firli Bahuri, chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), to corruption at the country's ministry of agriculture.
Former agriculture minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo was himself detained in a corruption case last month.
Mr Bahuri, an ex-police chief, has not been detained and denies he is corrupt.
Officers said they had uncovered foreign exchange transaction documents and US dollars worth 7.4bn Indonesian Rupiah ($477,730) in connection with the investigation.
Jakarta police official, Ade Safri Simanjuntak, told reporters on Wednesday that "sufficient evidence" had been found to implicate Mr Bahuri in a case of alleged corruption.
He added a state official had extorted money at the agriculture ministry from 2020 to 2023, Reuters reported.
A total of 91 witnesses have been interviewed since the case opened in October.
Before being named as a suspect, Mr Bahuri said he had "never extorted anyone, and I've never been involved in a bribery... with anyone," during a press conference on Monday.
President Joko Widodo said on Thursday he would "respect the process of law" when questioned about Mr Bahuri.
The president must temporarily suspend any KPK chief named as a criminal suspect, according to Indonesian law.
A corruption conviction for state officials carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.