Not that many people know where the Sangihe Islands are, but the name of one of the regencies in North Sulawesi is suddenly embroiled in a series of controversies related to the issuance of a gold mining operation permit on the main island. The controversy escalated when shocking news arrived in the evening on June 9, 2021. The Vice Regent of Sangihe one Helmud Hontong, who vehemently opposed the gold mining operations on Sangihe Islands, died on a flight from Denpasar to Manado. In less than 30 minutes after Helmud received medical attention on the plane, Helmud was declared dead. This news was only known to the public outside of North Sulawesi several hours later. Various conspiracy theories emerged, including the allegation that Helmud’s death was related to the mining company he was against.

In April 2019, after three years of investigation, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced new suspects in the scandalous conversion of forest land in Riau. Among them were corporate suspect PT Palma Satu and its owner Surya Darmadi (Duta Palma Group). In the last week of June 2020, the trial of one of the key suspects, one Suheri Terta, began in the Corruption Court of the Pekanbaru District Court. On Sept. 9, 2020, the Panel of Judges acquitted Suheri of all charges. The KPK challenged the decision and, recently, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the KPK. Suheri has been declared guilty. Separately, the former Commissioner of the General Election Commission (KPU) Wahyu Setiawan, who abused his authority and received grafts, has to spend more time in prison as the Supreme Court recently decided to aggravate his punishment. 

A noteworthy civil lawsuit was registered with the South Jakarta District Court by two plaintiffs. One of them is one Tarunodjojo Nusa, a name too unique to be forgotten. Tarunodjojo is a former executive of Bank Umum Servitia who was involved in the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) scandal. Apart from Tarunodjojo, the other names listed as parties to the lawsuit are no less interesting.

The court examination into the corruption case that brought down former minister of social affairs Juliari Peter Batubara is starting to reveal interesting details. The prosecutors summoned dozens of witnesses to two different hearings held this week.  On Dec. 5,...

In July 2020, the Ministry of Finance decided to enforce Value-added Tax (VAT/PPN) to sales of digital products supplied by foreign businesses to Indonesian consumers. As of last week, the number of companies obliged to collect PPN has gone up to 73 companies, with...

In November 2019, Indonesian Customs officials uncovered a smuggling scandal involving executives of PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (GIAA). Four directors, including then-President Director Ari Askhara, were dismissed following the incident. The Directorate General...

The latest scandal in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed more unpleasant details. After the commotion concerning embezzlement of evidence and operational information leaks, the KPK named one of its investigators a suspect for brokering a case in Tanjungbalai, North Sumatera. Earlier this week, the Supervisory Board dishonorably discharged the investigator. The Board mentioned the parties who had supposedly provided the graft. The scheme had been running since the investigator was first appointed into the KPK in 2019. 

After years of drama, the corruption case involving the former Secretary of the Supreme Court Nurhadi has come to an end. Only one suspect remains, i.e., the person who helped Nurhadi hide from law enforcers. After several months of inquisition, on June 3, 2021, the first hearing of the suspect’s trial started. 

PT Pelangi Indah Canindo Tbk (PICO), a cylinder tank manufacturer, is experiencing many problems. In addition to the lawsuit on Suspension of Debt Payment filed in April 2021, the Company is also in dispute with one of its creditors in two different courts.