JAKARTA — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has removed Immanuel Ebenezer from his post as Deputy Manpower Minister after he was named a suspect in a high-profile extortion case, making him the first serving cabinet member to be implicated in an anti-corruption investigation under Prabowo’s administration.
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi confirmed the dismissal late on August 22, stressing that all legal proceedings will move forward in line with due process. The move is seen as a test of President Prabowo’s pledge to uphold a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, a recurring challenge for Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
According to Setyo Budiyanto, chair of Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Ebenezer had allegedly orchestrated an extortion scheme around workplace safety certificates, charging applicants more than 20 times the actual fee. The deputy minister is accused of pocketing around 3 billion rupiah (S$238,000) in kickbacks in December 2024.
The KPK revealed that Ebenezer was arrested alongside a dozen associates during a sting operation on August 21, and will be detained for 20 days as investigations continue. While denying any wrongdoing, Ebenezer reportedly expressed hope that President Prabowo would grant him clemency.
The case has sent shockwaves through Jakarta. Manpower Minister Yassierli described the arrest as “a heavy blow” for the government, while lawmakers warned that the scandal risked undermining public trust. Social media users quickly resurfaced Ebenezer’s controversial past comments, including his dismissive remark earlier this year that dissatisfied Indonesians should “just leave the country.”
Political analysts suggest the case signals both opportunities and setbacks for the Prabowo administration. “The law is being applied without exception, and that deserves credit,” said D. Nicky Fahrizal, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “But investors will want to see deeper structural reforms to believe that corruption can truly be tackled.”
The scandal also marks a personal setback for Prabowo, as Ebenezer had been a prominent supporter during his presidential campaign and remains a member of the ruling Gerindra party. Observers say the case will likely test whether Prabowo’s anti-corruption stance can be consistently enforced, even when political allies are involved.