In October 2019, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a sting operation and uncovered an outrageous corruption scheme in the regency of Indramayu in West Java. KPK then arrested several people including then Regent of Indramayu one Supendi (Golkar). Tthe trial started in December 2019 and lasted until mid-2020. All defendants were found guilty, however, the KPK did not stop investigating. Towards the end of the year KPK named former member of the West Java DPRD Abdul Rozaq a suspect. Over six months later, on April 15, 2021, KPK named more suspects in the case, both of whom were Abdul Rozaq’s colleagues during his tenure in West Java DPRD. We have to wait for another five months before the trial of the latest defendants starts.

The Ministry of Finance has been expanding the tax base by appointing new collectors of Value Added Tax (VAT/PPN) for digital products in trading through the electronic system (PMSE). The number of collectors continues to increase. The Ministry recently appointed two new collectors, and by September 2021, there are already 83 companies with the same set of responsibilities. 

It’s been a busy month for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Along with the revelation of the corruption case in Probolinggo, the trial for the suspect Novi Rahman Hidhayat, the disgraced regent of Nganjuk, began. Hidayat is suspected of committing crimes similar to those revealed in Probolinggo. The KPK also announced the Banjarnegara Regent as a suspect in another corruption case. 

A noteworthy lawsuit was registered at the Commercial Court at the Central Jakarta District Court last week. The one being sued is Antonius Vidi Kamadjaja. The one seeking Anton’s bankruptcy is Robert Tantular. It’s Robert’s second attempt after his first lawsuit was denied. Separately, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has to face another lawsuit related to the handling of a corruption case. The lawsuit was filed by PT Inti Agri Resources Tbk (IIKP).

The weakness of the career pattern system for Civil Servants (PNS/ASN) has been repeatedly exploited by regional leaders as a source of side income. Some regional leaders have been convicted for receiving bribes. That said, the punishments have not provided a significant deterrent effect. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has already arrested several regional leaders in similar cases this year. The most recent being the case involving the Regent of Probolinggo in East Java. There have been seven cases of positions trading in the past five years, including the one uncovered last week.

The court examination into the corruption case that brought down former minister of social affairs Juliari Peter Batubara has ended. Two weeks ago, the Panel of Judges read their verdict for Juliari. This week, the last two defendants have been found guilty, but the punishments given are much lighter because both men are Justice Collaborators. 

Apart from the commendable actions of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in revealing some of the largest corruption cases, its asset recovery attempts have been challenged. The AGO carried out confiscations without legally binding court decisions. The move has caused much resistance. Several lawsuits have been filed by third parties against the AGO.

After nearly three years of investigation with an escape drama, Samin Tan, owner of PT Borneo Lumbung Energi & Metal Tbk (formerly BORN) who stood trial as a defendant in a case of bribery, has been found not guilty. We question the Corruption Eradication...

The latest case brokering scandal in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) entered a new chapter two months ago as the trial of the disgraced Mayor of Tanjungbalai, M Syahrial (who used the service of the case broker) started. Recently, the KPK announced that it...