When the trial of the disgraced Governor of Southeast Sulawesi Nur Alam ended, his team of legal counsels filed a lawsuit against one Basuki Wasis. Basuki was the expert witness who testified on behalf of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Basuki said that based on his research, Nur Alam’s crimes caused environmental damages in addition to State losses. The court accepted the lawsuit against Basuki, and this may have given PT Jatim Jaya Perkasa (JJP) the idea to file a similar lawsuit against Prof Bambang Hero Saharjo. JJP was accused of causing forest fires in 2013. It was recently deemed guilty on the stage of cassation. JJP blames Bambang for the verdict so that they decided to sue him on September 17, 2018—less than two weeks after the Supreme Court gave their decision. Responding to the lawsuits, the Ministry of Environment and forestry has begun to draft a Ministerial Regulation on Witness Protection Program.
To subscribe please click here
