September 11, 2025 | 05:57 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission III, Benny Kabur Harman, urges law enforcement to resolve the online gambling case allegedly involving former Minister of Cooperatives, Budi Arie Setiadi. The alleged corruption offense occurred when Budi Arie was serving as the Minister of Communication and Information (Kominfo) in President Joko Widodo's administration.
Benny says that Budi Arie should be brought to justice because witnesses and suspects mentioned his name in the online gambling case. "Anyone involved in gambling cases must be brought to justice and punished," said Benny at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Budi Arie was recently removed from the Red and White Cabinet after President Prabowo Subianto conducted a reshuffle on Monday, September 8, 2025. Budi Arie's position was replaced by his deputy, Ferry Juliantono, who was appointed Minister of Cooperatives.
According to Benny Kabur Harman, Budi Arie should be punished if there is evidence implicating him in the online gambling case. "If there is evidence, then action should be taken; if not, then there should be none," said the Democratic Party politician.
He is convinced that President Prabowo is strongly against gambling. Additionally, Benny mentioned that the head of state is fighting against corruption, drug abuse, and terrorism.
Therefore, Benny also urges a reexamination of former Minister of Youth and Sports Ario Bimo Nandito Dito Ariotedjo in the 2023 BTS Kominfo corruption case. "We support the President in taking firm action," said Benny.
At that time, Dito was suspected of receiving Rp27 billion to cover up the alleged corruption case of BTS 4G. Dito denied the allegation. On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, Dito was summoned by the prosecutor to serve as an additional witness in the corruption case at the Central Jakarta District Court.
Benny emphasized that Prabowo has two law enforcement instruments, namely the police and the prosecutor, to resolve corruption cases. Furthermore, he also urges the government to strengthen the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) by increasing its budget.
Previously, Budi Arie's name came up in the case involving the protection of online gambling sites within the Ministry of Kominfo. The charging letter number, PDM-32/JKTSL/Eku.2/02/2025, revealed the involvement of the chair of the Jokowi Volunteers, also known as Projo.
Denden Imadudin Soleh, a Former Kominfo Ministry employee, stated that former minister Budi Arie Setiadi was aware of the practice of protecting online gambling sites within his ministry. Denden is a defendant in the case involving the protection of online gambling sites, as well as a key witness for the defendants: Muhrijan (also known as Agus), Zulkarnaen Apriliantony, Adhi Kismanto, and Alwin Jabarti Kiemas.
According to the trial facts, it was revealed that Budi Arie Setiadi received a 50 percent share of the value of all unblocked gambling sites. Budi Arie Setiadi has denied the allegation that he received 50 percent of the protection funds for online gambling sites undertaken by his former subordinates at the Ministry of Kominfo.
"It is an evil narrative attacking my personal dignity and integrity. It is completely untrue," said Budi Arie when contacted on Monday, May 19, 2025.
He claimed that the allocation of funds mentioned in the prosecutor's indictment was merely an internal discussion among the suspects. He claimed that he did not know the plan for distributing the funds, nor did he receive them. When he was still the Minister of Kominfo, he was actively involved in cracking down on online gambling sites. He is ready to prove that he was not involved in the illegal site protection practice.
Jihan Ristiyanti and Intan Setiawanty contributed to the writing of this article
Editor's Choice: Indonesian Police Freezes 811 Online Gambling Bank Accounts Worth Rp154.3 Billion
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