The Government has been aggressively pursuing the perpetrators of forest fires, particularly corporations. The Government won many cases, but the victories have not ended the problem. We look into the dispute against PT Kalista Alam in Aceh to illustrate the trouble caused by obscure court decisions. 

At the end of last week, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) announced the results of its assessment of the corporate actions taken by Honda Motor Co Ltd on three Japan-based companies. Honda was cleared, with no violation in the process. The KPPU continues to fulfill its duties amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The number of corporate actions notified during the pandemic has increased considerably when compared to the previous year.

In the past month the Corruption Court of the Kupang District Court has taken turns reading its verdict to the defendants in the case of corruption in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). There are eight convicts in this case. This week, the Panel of Judges of the same court acquitted two defendants, both of whom are foreign nationals. Separately, in Jakarta, Joko Tjandra has received the Supreme Court’s ruling of his cassation plea.

The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) announced its audit of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) in 2020. The former found irregularities in the realization of investments worth more than Rp15 trillion.

It has been almost three years since the prosecutor’s office began investigating the allegations of corruption involving state-owned insurance company PT Asuransi Jiwasraya (Persero). The trials of the parties involved are still ongoing. Recently, a former high-ranking official from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) was found guilty, and two other trials continue.

Two weeks ago the Central Jakarta District Court registered a lawsuit filed by PT Sandipala Arthaputra, one of the key companies involved in the electronic identity card (E-KTP) graft case. The lawsuit was filed against a law firm that accompanies the Company in dealing with legal issues in Singapore. The lawsuit reminds us that the investigation into the E-KTP graft case is not over. Domestically, the KPK still has the obligation to complete the inquisition of four suspects.

In 2018, the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court uncovered a case of corruption involving the then Regent of Central Lampung Mustafa. Mustafa stood trial for bribing members of the region’s councilors (DPRD) and was found guilty. In the development of its investigation, the KPK found another allegation of corruption. Mustafa was named a suspect in a new case after he was convicted. The trial of the second case started earlier this year. On July 5, 2021, Mustafa was once again declared guilty. 

Several months ago, several Civil Servant Investigators (PPNS) from two ministries submitted a Judicial Review application, challenging the provisions in Law No. 8/2010 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Money Laundering (UU TPPU). The application was filed because the provisions of the law in question limit the definition of investigators authorized to conduct investigations to only investigators affiliated with six state institutions. As a result, even though PPNS had found allegations of money laundering, they did not have the authority to carry out investigations. The applicants asked the Constitutional Court to change the limitation of the definition. The application was fully granted last week.

The investigation into the corruption involving PT Asuransi Sosial Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia (familiarly known as PT ASABRI) garnered objections as the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) moved to confiscate and auction off assets even though the trial of the suspects has not yet started. Two companies related to the suspect Heru Hidayat resisted the AGO’s move via the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN Jakarta). The AGO also has to face a pre-trial lawsuit from several parties, including Jimmy Tjokrosaputro, the younger brother of suspect Benny Tjokrosaputro.