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.

The plan to revise Law No. 6/1983 concerning General Provisions and Tax Procedures (UU KUP) is still being discussed, but some things have gone nearly unnoticed. One of which is the plan to apply tax avoidance prevention instruments. Indonesia does not have a comprehensive instrument with high legal force. Therefore the Government wants to implement a more comprehensive instrument through the General Anti-avoidance Rule (GAAR).

The feud between Bambang Trihatmodjo, son of the late President Soeharto, and the Ministry of Finance will not end soon. We all know that the parties are in dispute related to the Presidential Assistance funds (Banpres) used to finance the 1997 SEA Games. Bambang was the chair of the 1997 SEA Games Organizing Partner Consortium. The Ministry insisted that he must be held accountable for what happened then. After his attempt to challenge the Ministry’s decision failed, Bambang Tri reportedly tried to assign blame on another person in the company responsible for the said consortium. Bambang filed another lawsuit. 

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has started an investigation into the allegations of corruption in the process of implementing national export financing carried out by the Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI/Eximbank). Will the AGO thoroughly investigate the problems in LPEI?

Last year, the public was shocked by the investigation into a case of corruption in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The High Prosecutors' Office (Kejati) of NTT examined several high profile public figures, i.e., West Manggarai Regent Agustinus Dula and 16...