Indonesia's former agriculture minister arrested over alleged corruption

abcnews.go.com:

Indonesia’s former agriculture minister has been arrested by the country’s anti-graft commission on accusations of bribery, abuse of power and fraud

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s former agriculture minister was arrested Thursday by the country’s anti-graft commission on accusations of bribery, abuse of power and fraud involving contracts with private vendors.

Syahrul Yasin Limpo had resigned his position as agriculture minister last week to focus on the impending legal proceedings against him, and he was formally named as a suspect on Wednesday by the Corruption Eradication Commission, known as the KPK.

Footage late Thursday showed Limpo arriving at the commission’s office in handcuffs and wearing a black leather jacket, black hat and a mask. He did not respond to journalists’ questions.

Limpo’s lawyer, Febri Diansyah, said it was unfortunate that the KPK forcefully arrested his client at his home at night after he had informed the commission that Limpo would come to the KPK on Friday for questioning.

Limpo had missed a scheduled appointment with the KPK on Wednesday for interrogation, saying he was away visiting his parents at his hometown in South Sulawesi province. He returned to the capital Jakarta late Wednesday.

Diansyah said that Limpo does not deny the allegations against him, that he will cooperate with the KPK investigation, and that he does not represent a flight risk.

“I guarantee that Syahrul Yasin Limpo will not run away, there is no indication that he would escape or destroy evidence,” Diansyah said. “Let’s see proportionally how this case is handled.”

If Limpo is formally charged, it may further tarnish President Joko Widodo’s credibility in fighting corruption. Four other members of Widodo’s Cabinet