Strict Disciplinary Action Follows Internal Investigations Revealing Unlawful Betting Deposits Among Echelon Staff
Indonesian Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has announced the permanent dismissal of 13 echelon officials following verified findings linking them to online gambling activities. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the minister stressed that such conduct represents a severe breach of civil service discipline, public service ethics, and institutional integrity.
Investigation Findings and Disciplinary Enforcement
The decisive action followed a rigorous internal review and verification of reports received by the ministry regarding officials engaging in illicit online gambling. Investigations uncovered that certain individuals had executed online gambling deposits totaling nearly Rp200 million (US$11,000), cementing the basis for immediate and permanent termination.
Minister Amran clarified that the dismissals were strictly isolated to online gambling violations and remained entirely unrelated to any separate corruption cases. Emphasizing that civil servants must lead by example, the minister stated that zero tolerance is applied to legal and ethical breaches, overriding any previous warnings.
Reflecting on the human impact of the disciplinary measures, Minister Amran noted:
“Because I feel sorry for their children and spouses. That is my proof of care for them. As a leader, I must guide them on the right path. Guide them to become good people, good servants, exemplary employees, exemplary civil servants. So, I am obligated to guide them.”
Seamless Operational Continuity
To prevent any administrative disruption, the minister instructed the ministry’s Inspectorate General and Secretariat General to immediately prepare and appoint replacements. With a workforce of approximately 52,000 employees, all vacant positions left by the dismissed officials have already been filled, ensuring that ministerial performance and public services remain unaffected.
