Inside cigarette excise cartel
The latest investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) into alleged bribery within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise is not merely another corruption case. It is a window into a deeper, more troubling reality: the possibility of a structured, cartel-like system governing Indonesia’s cigarette excise regime.
When AI steals your identity
The artificial intelligence race has entered a new and unsettling phase. It is no longer about who can generate the most accurate text or solve the most complex problems. It is about who can sound the most human—and increasingly, who can sound exactly like you.
Judicial independence—or judicial immunity?
Indonesia is once again attempting to reform its judiciary. The proposed RUU Jabatan Hakim (Judges Bill) promises to elevate judges into fully independent state officials, free from bureaucratic constraints. On paper, it is a long-overdue correction. In practice, it may create a more complicated question: are we strengthening judicial independence—or institutionalizing judicial immunity?
Civilian victim, military court
The decision by the TNI to formally request access from Lembaga Perlindungan Saksi dan Korban (LPSK) to question Andrie Yunus is not merely procedural. It signals a deeper and far more consequential legal question: will this case be tried in a military court, even though the victim is a civilian?
Amsal Sitepu case and village fund trap
The prosecution of Amsal Christy Sitepu has sparked outrage across creative community. To many, the case looks like yet another example of a freelancer being dragged into a legal system that does not understand how creative work is priced. But focusing solely on the “criminalization of creatives” risks missing a far more uncomfortable truth: this case is not an anomaly—it is a symptom of systemic weaknesses in how village funds are planned, executed and audited.
Illegal settlements and urban planning issues
Illegal settlements around public facilities have long been a challenge in Indonesia, particularly in dense urban centers like Jakarta. Evictions have become necessary measures to improve public safety and urban planning. But what happens when they are carried out...
Talking compliance, delaying control
Child-protection regulation for digital platforms—popularly known as PP Tunas—came into force this week, it was framed as a long-overdue intervention. Children under 16 should not be freely exposed to high-risk online environments; platforms must verify age, enable parental controls and redesign features that amplify harm. Few would dispute the intent. The friction begins with execution—and with power.
Catching operators, missing owners
War on online gambling is producing impressive numbers. Police raids, blocked websites, frozen bank accounts, and publicized arrests have become routine. Yet behind these statistics lies a more uncomfortable truth: the state is winning battles against operators, but losing the war against the system—and its real owners.
Fresh pressure on Samin Tan and the coking coal asset
Satgas PKH has imposed administrative fines of Rp4.2 trillion against PT Asmin Koalindo Tuhup, a coking coal producer controlled by Samin Tan (Borneo Lumbung Energi/BORN). Samin himself has been named corruption suspect by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) for the alleged illegal mining operations for nine years.
Long-list of P2P lending platforms fined by KPPU
Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) has recently fined 97 peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms due to operating the alleged interest rate cartel practices. The lenders violated Article 5 of Law No. 5 of 1999 by coordinating interest rates far above market equilibrium, effectively stifling price competition. Consequently, the commission imposed collective fines totaling Rp755 billion, with 52 firms receiving the minimum penalty of Rp1 billion each. The verdict was read out at the Commission’s Panel hearing last week.