Law

Over three years ago, legal counsel of Vinmar Overseas Ltd, Budidjaja law firm, placed an announcement in the national newspaper, stating the planned execution of assets of its former partner, PT Sumi Asih/PT Sumi Asih Oleochemical Industry. The dispute was among the longest legal disputes in the country, involving various overseas jurisdictions. We already thought it’ll be difficult for the law firm to conduct the execution. We’re right. The highly complex legal dispute resulted in the determination of senior and prominent advocate, Tony Budidjaja, as a suspect on suspicion of false accusations. Tony faces his trial in October 2024 and has been found guilty. What is happening? 

Lokataru, an NGO, has filed a report against Yandri Susanto, minister of village affairs, to the ministry of State Secretary Wednesday (Feb 26). The NGO demands President Prabowo to fulfil his campaign promisee to fight corruption because Yandri was found committed violation of laws in benefiting his wife in the election of Serang Regency, Banten province.

President Prabowo Subianto openly admitted about worrying state of corruption in the country in his speech at the World’s Government Summit on Thursday (Feb 13). “We remain resolute in eradicate corruption and mismanagement…Our actions have proven that no one is above the law…those untouchables should now held accountable,” Prabowo declared. 

Earlier last year an interesting “clash” happened. The Minister of Finance visited the AGO and brought along reports on four debtors of the LPEI, alleging fraudulent acts which caused losses to the State. The interesting part is, days after that, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) stepped forward and announced that they had commenced investigation and inquisition into the similar allegation. At the time, the KPK looked like they wanted to steal the spotlight from the AGO, because we know it was the AGO who investigated similar allegations implicating LPEI several years ago. But the situation was quickly forgotten. In August 2024, another interesting situation happened, as the AGO decided to hand over some of the investigation to the KPK, in what the institution calls a synergy. Months later, recently, the KPK announced progress and named several suspects. 

Former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong, who is implicated in alleged sugar imports corruption between 2015 and 2016, attended his first trial at the Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday (06/03). After the prosecutor (JPU) finished reading all of the indictments, Lembong’s legal representative Ari Yusuf Amir almost immediately raised objections in the consideration that the inquiry had been going on for too long. So, what are the indictments and the objections?

The case is interesting because, the name of PT Orbit Terminal Merak was popular one decade ago in the case of then House Speaker Setya Novanto (back then also chairman of Golkar Party), who wrote a letter to then Pertamina CEO related to fuel business. 

Recently, Indonesia’s music industry has been shaken by various royalty disputes involving prominent musicians. These cases not only reflect the complexity of copyright management in the country but also highlight the urgent need to reform the royalty system to be fairer and more transparent.

Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has named seven suspects, including members of Riza Chalid’s family, in corruption case at state oil and gas company Pertamina. They are accused of causing state losses of more than US$10 billion in the period of 2018-2023 from oil deals with Pertamina, one of key members of the newly launched sovereign wealth fund Danantara.