PKPU against Sritex
In the past two months, several business partners of PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk (SRIL or Sritex) have filed a lawsuit for Suspension of Debt Payment (PKPU) against the textile giant. Its subsidiaries and owners have also been sued. Sritex explained the situation to the Stock Exchange, but what is happening deserves more attention.
Corruption Journal
The former Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) member Rizal Djalil, who is a defendant in the vast corruption scheme involving civil servants under the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, was found guilty. Rizal is the last defendant and so far the most high-profile perpetrator. We wonder if the KPK will continue developing the investigation after the trial ends. Meanwhile, the defendants in the case of corruption involving PT Waskita Karya (Persero) Tbk (WSKT) were found guilty.
Corruption in the Ministry of Religious Affairs
Over two years ago, two inquisitions into the allegations of corruption in the Ministry of Religious Affairs were announced. It was odd because the case was first uncovered nine years ago. The first suspect was even convicted in 2013. The prosecutors read their indictment of the latest defendant recently.
On the Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information
Four years ago, the Indonesian Government published the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 1/2017 regarding Access to Financial Information for Taxation Purposes to regulate the issue of Tax Information Exchange Agreement or Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information (AEoI). The Perppu was promulgated into Law soon after. So Indonesia joined the jurisdictions committed to the implementation of AEoI. Since then, the Directorate General of Taxation has the authority to ask and receive tax-related information, but not everyone welcomes the change.
More Problems in the KPK
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been embroiled in one scandal after another. After the commotion related to an employee embezzling evidence and information leak, the KPK named one of its investigators a suspect of corruption. The suspect tried to broker a case in Tanjungbalai, North Sumatera.
On the Bakamla Graft Case: Latest Trial
It has been over four years since the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) uncovered a corruption scheme in the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla). Unlike with other cases, the KPK continued investigating the Bakamla graft case though the trials were over. It eventually developed a new case. The trial of the latest defendants began recently.
On Edhy Prabowo’s Graft Case: Verdict for the Briber
Five months after the case was uncovered, on April 21, 2021 the businessman who bribed the former Minister of Marine and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo was found guilty. Suharjito, the owner of PT Dua Putra Perkasa Pratama (PT DPPP), was given a lighter sentence than what the prosecutors had demanded.
Social Assistance Graft Case: The Trial of Juliari Batubara
The disgraced Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Peter Batubara faced the first hearing of his trial on April 21, 2021, after going through four months of inquisition. Juliari is indicted with three charges and allegedly received Rp32.48 billion. In the indictment, the prosecutors of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) mentioned the dozens of companies that gave Juliari and his intermediaries rewards for securing their involvement in the Ministry of Social Affairs’ social assistance program throughout 2020.
On Salt Importation
With the Press release No. 034/KPPU-PR/IV/2021, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) announced the Indonesian Government’s decision to increase industrial salt importation quota to 3 million tons—the projected demand is 4.6 million tons. The increase is unavoidable because the quality of local salt production has not been able to meet industrial standards. The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) notes several potential problems.
Lawsuits against Jiwasraya
Entering 2021, problems related to PT Asuransi Jiwasraya (Persero) multiplied after two of its customers submitted a lawsuit for Suspension of Debt Payment (PKPU) to the Commercial Court of the Central Jakarta District Court. The trial ended after the plaintiffs withdrew their lawsuit. But recently more customers have submitted similar lawsuits. In addition, there are two civil lawsuits filed against the Company.