Gov't to follow legal procedures after Karim's detention: Minister

 State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said the government respects the legal process involving Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim, who was detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday.

"Of course, the government respects the legal process currently being carried out by law enforcement authorities, both the Attorney General's Office and the KPK," Hadi said in a written statement to journalists here 

He said the government has been concerned over the cases that emerged in the past two days.

According to him, President Prabowo Subianto has repeatedly reminded all government officials on various occasions to improve themselves and combat corrupt practices in carrying out their daily duties.

"The President never tires of reminding all of us on various occasions that we must improve ourselves and fight corrupt practices in carrying out our daily duties," he said.

Hadi also stated that matters related to Karim's position as deputy minister would be addressed in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations.

He added that the government has communicated with Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto to ensure that the incident does not disrupt public services.

"We have also communicated with the Minister of Immigration and Corrections to ensure that this incident does not disrupt services for the public," he said.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim was officially detained by the KPK after emerging from the commission's Red and White Building wearing an orange detainee vest.

Based on ANTARA's observation at the KPK Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday, Silmy Karim walked from the building to a detainee transport vehicle at around 8:36 a.m. local time.

He was followed by former Acting Director General of Immigration Saffar Muhammad Godam, Head of the West Java Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration Jaya Saputra, Head of the Class I Special Non-Border Crossing Immigration Office of West Jakarta Ronald Arman Abdullah, and four other individuals, all of whom were wearing orange KPK detainee vests.

They are suspected of involvement in an alleged corruption case within the Directorate General of Immigration.