Category: Law

Back in 2022, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) started an investigation related to allegations of corruption and money laundering implicating the Duta Palma group’s palm oil operation in Indragiri Hulu regency, Riau. The corruption case was examined based on three warrants of inquisitions while the money laundering case was examined based on one warrant, all of which implicating one conglomerate, Surya Darmadi of Duta Palma Group. Surya has been found guilty under a very disappointing decision back in 2023 and the investigation into the group continues. After a lengthy process far from media coverage, this week court proceedings on the group started. 

Towards the end of 2022, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a Sting Operation in East Java and arrested several parties involved in a case of alleged bribery. The KPK later announced four suspects, including the deputy speaker of the East Java DPRD, Sahat Tua Simandjuntak (Golkar). Last year, the KPK announced a development in the case and mentioned they have named over 20 new suspects in the case, including former members of the DPRD, but we have not heard anything else since then, until last week. The KPK continue the investigation and inquisition by searching several places including the Office of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) in East Java, resident of the former Chairman of the DPD, La Nyalla Mattalitti, and resident of the former Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (PDTT), Abdul Halim Iskandar. Abdul’s name attracts most of the attention because he is the brother of Muhaimin Iskandar.

It has been eight years since the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) decided to investigate the allegations of corruption involving State-owned insurance company PT Asuransi Jasa Indonesia (PT Jasindo). This is interesting to us because the KPK rarely investigates a series of corruption cases involving the same party in a very lengthy process. The commission named two new suspects back in August 2024 and the court proceedings are reaching the finish line as the prosecutors read their demands in the latest hearing. 

After gaining support from the PTUN decisions, trials on the corporate suspects in the case of alleged corruption started. As mentioned, after nearly a year of proceedings far from media coverage, the verdict provided by the Panel of Judges surprised the public. For us, however, the decision is expected. Unfortunately, even though the legal considerations for the decisions may have been correct, it should be tainted by allegations of bribery. 

Three years ago the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced an investigation into the shortage of cooking oil, which caused an unreasonable price increase. The investigation later managed to uncover a corruption scheme. Five individuals were named suspects and three groups of companies were implicated. Since the trial started, we had mentioned that the Government also had a portion of the blame in this situation, so it was not surprising that a few weeks ago the Panel of Judges decided to release the three groups of companies from criminal charges. Unfortunately, this decision turned out to be flawed. The AGO found a conspiracy and bribery mediated by the current Chief of the South Jakarta District Court and the parties involved were arrested during the weekend. Apart from the case, what we are witnessing now is a reminder for all parties to be more careful in choosing legal counsels.

The legal dispute over the management of the State land where the Sultan Hotel & Residence stands is far from over. This situation is really interesting and unexpected. Although it has been repeatedly declared defeated in court, PT Indobuildco and its patron, Pontjo Sutowo, refused to surrender. This week, a new lawsuit was filed again at the Central Jakarta District Court. 

The administration of President Prabowo Subianto openly involved many military elements in carrying out civil tasks in various sectors. On the one hand, this action cannot be justified because it is prone to abuse, but on the other hand we cannot deny that the headstrong parties can only be disciplined with force. This is what happened in the efforts to regulate the use of forest areas. In January 2025, long before the controversial Law on TNI was passed, President Prabowo issued Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 5/2025 concerning Forest Area Regulation, which in its implementation was carried out by a Task Force (Satuan Tugas – Satgas). The Chief of the Steering Committee of the Satgas is the Minister of Defense, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

With the complicated issues and the parties no longer existing, PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada Tbk (CMNP) is left with few options. Holding Bambang Hary Iswanto Tanoesoedibjo (known as Hary Tanoe) and Bhakti Investama accountable is the clearest path, but this too has been thwarted by many obstacles, until finally CMNP decided to try another legal remedy. 

Mohamad Jusuf Hamka, said beneficiary owner of toll road developer and operator PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada Tbk (CMNP), has recently resurfaced in public, but not for political reasons as we have witnessed in recent years. This time, news comes from CMNP who recently filed a tort lawsuit against Bambang Hary Iswanto Tanoesoedibjo (known as Hary Tanoe) and PT MNC Asia Holding Tbk (formerly PT Bhakti Investama Tbk – BHIT). This lawsuit has not attracted much attention, although at a glance it can be seen that this case is related to another case whose roots of the problem occurred in 1999 and was marked by various court lawsuits and even allegations of corruption. Will this lawsuit open a new chapter in the latest attempt to resolve this problem?