INDONESIA Papua, governor accused of corruption and money laundering

According to the Agency for the control of financial transactions, Lukas Enembe would have appropriated billions of rupees intended for public works. The Jakarta government confirms that this is “a very serious court case.” But the politician’s lawyer accuses him of criminalization and his supporters take to the streets.

Jakarta () – The governor of the Indonesian province of Papua, Lukas Enembe, has been accused of corruption and money laundering, the Indonesian Minister of Politics, Legislation and Security, Mohammad Mahfud, confirmed to journalists, adding that it is about a “very serious court case”.

“It is hundreds of billions of Indonesian rupiah stolen from the fund for administrative works of the province of Papua. Other sums are linked to the Indonesian National Sports Festival and money laundering practices,” the minister said.

The 55-year-old governor has blocked personal funds worth 71,000 million Indonesian rupiah (4.74 million euros). The Indonesian Financial Transaction Analysis Agency (PPATK) has identified a large number of “illicit” financial transactions related to Enembe’s personal funds and reported such findings to the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Commission. One of the identified transactions would be a $55 million cash deposit from a casino for money laundering purposes.

Governor Enembe has been under investigation since September 5 and has been banned from leaving the country, including for medical treatment in Manila. Enembe’s lawyer countered that this is a criminalization of his client, to which Minister Mahfud replied that the law was simply being applied to a high-ranking official accused of corruption. However, it is feared that this financial saga will increase tensions in the already troubled province of Papua, and indeed the politician’s supporters have already organized demonstrations of support in the streets.