Jakarta. Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has permanently removed 13 ministry officials after they were found to have participated in online gambling, saying the conduct violated civil service discipline and undermined the integrity of public officials.

Amran said the dismissals followed an internal investigation and verification process after the Agriculture Ministry received reports alleging that several officials were involved in online gambling activities.

“We removed 13 officials because they were undisciplined and involved in online gambling,” Amran said Monday, as quoted by state news agency Antara.

He said the 13 officials had undergone examination and further investigation, with supporting evidence found to substantiate their involvement. Some had previously received guidance and warnings over similar violations but repeated the conduct, prompting the ministry to impose permanent dismissal.

Amran said the disciplinary action was unrelated to any corruption case. The sanctions were imposed solely over their involvement in online gambling.

The investigation found that some officials had deposited nearly Rp 200 million ($11,300) into online gambling accounts, he said.

Data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) showed that money circulating through online gambling activities in Indonesia reached Rp86.82 trillion ($4.9 billion) in the first half of 2026, from January to June. PPATK said it had halted transactions involving 5,762 accounts and seized Rp588.62 billion in funds linked to online gambling.

The government has stepped up efforts to curb the sector by blocking gambling websites, disrupting payment channels and investigating financial accounts linked to illegal gambling networks. 

Amran ordered the ministry’s inspector general and secretary-general to immediately prepare replacements to ensure government services and ministry operations remain unaffected. The Agriculture Ministry has about 52,000 employees.

He said civil servants were expected to serve as role models and that involvement in online gambling was incompatible with the ethical responsibilities of public servants.

Amran said the dismissals were also intended as a warning to other ministry employees and to reinforce the consequences of violating civil service rules.

“I have to guide them to become good people, good public servants and exemplary civil servants,” Amran said.

He added that the decision was partly motivated by concern for the officials’ families and future, stressing that disciplinary action was intended not only as punishment but also as a form of guidance.

Amran said the vacant positions would be filled promptly and would not affect the ministry’s performance.

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