Category: Law

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? 

It has been nearly two years since the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) began the investigations into alleged violations in information technology-based money lending and borrowing services and this year the commission declared that they had gathered sufficient evidence. Since the investigation was carried out starting Oct. 25, 2023 until now, the investigation task force has examined over 40 P2Ps as the reported parties. 

Trusty Cars Pte Ltd, a Singaporean company engaged in the automotive sector in Southeast Asia, acquired PT Mitra Pinasthika Mustika Rent (MPMRent) in 2022. In relation to the corporate actions, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) mentioned that the combined asset value of the two parties as a result of this transaction has exceeded the minimum limit for notification obligations to the KPPU. However, the required notification was only submitted beyond the time limit required by law. The KPPU examined the allegation towards the end of last year and recently Trusty Cars have been found guilty.