Alleged Extortion Involving Indonesia's Anti-Corruption Chief Firli Bahuri

The chairman of Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Firli Bahuri, has been implicated as a suspect in an extortion case. The police have stated that there is enough evidence linking Bahuri to corruption within the agriculture ministry of the country. Last month, former agriculture minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo was detained in a corruption case. Bahuri, a former police chief, has denied the allegations and has not been detained. During the investigation, police found foreign exchange transaction documents and US dollars worth 7.4 billion Indonesian Rupiah ($477,730). According to Jakarta police, enough evidence has been found to implicate Bahuri in the alleged corruption case. It has been reported that a state official at the agriculture ministry had extorted money from 2020 to 2023. Since the case opened in October, a total of 91 witnesses have been interviewed. Prior to being named as a suspect, Bahuri had stated during a press conference that he had never extorted anyone or been involved in bribery. President Joko Widodo has stated that he will "respect the process of law" when asked about Bahuri. According to Indonesian law, any KPK chief named as a criminal suspect must be temporarily suspended by the president. State officials convicted of corruption can face a maximum sentence of life in prison.