The Corruption Eradication Commission in Indonesia has arrested Papua Governor Lukas Enembe on allegations of bribery.
The Jakarta Globe called the arrest in a restaurant in the provincial capital Jayapura on Tuesday, "dramatic" saying it came four months after he was named a suspect.
The arrest led to his supporters attacking a police Mobile Brigade Unit where he was being held prior to being flown to Jakarta on a chartered flight.
Governor Lukas Enembe Photo: West Papua Today
The paper said the two-term governor is accused of taking billions of rupiah in bribes from businessmen but has resisted arrest since the Commission named him a suspect in September.
Indonesia's Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center said Enembe made payments, amounting to $US39 million dollars, to overseas casinos.
Indonesia's Chief Security Minister Mohammad Mahfud said in October that the central government had channelled billions of dollars in what was dubbed "autonomy funding" to Papua since 2001, with about half of the amount disbursed during Enembe's term.
"Nothing happened: the people remain poor and the officials continue their lavish lifestyle," he said.
