Problems Surrounding PT Toshida Indonesia
Last week, the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN Jakarta) registered a lawsuit filed by PT Toshida Indonesia, a mining company located in Southeast Sulawesi. The lawsuit is related to issues that cost the Company its operating license. The Company sued the decision made by the Minister of Investment (Head of the Investment Coordinating Board – BKPM).
Another Land Mafia Case
The Chief of the National Police has made the eradication of land mafia a priority. Nevertheless, the process reveals many contradictory decisions made by law enforcement officers and even the Government. Recently, we learned of an alleged land mafia practice around Central Java and Yogyakarta. In this case, we see two contradictory police decisions.
On Joker’s Case: Pinangki’s Appeal
It has been over four months since the Panel of Judges of the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court read its decision on those who supposedly helped Joko Soegiarto Tjandra, including former prosecutor Pinangki Sirna Malasari. Pinangki was found guilty of evil conspiracy, money laundering, and bribery and because of that the Panel of Judges handed to her a sentence nearly twice more severe than what the prosecutor had demanded. The public praised said decision, but unfortunately, on the stage of appeals the Panel of Appeal reduced Pinangki’s sentence.
Social Assistance Graft Case: Proceedings Updates
The court examination into the corruption case that brought down former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Peter Batubara (PDIP) continues to reveal interesting details. The prosecutors summoned more important witnesses to the hearings held this week and we finally learned more on the existing allegations. Separately, one of the witnesses in the case filed a report to the Supervisory Board of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) against two investigators, accusing the investigators of excessive actions which caused him to lose his job. The witness denied involvement in the case, but accounts of other witnesses stated otherwise.
Plantation Reform in West Papua
The West Papua province government with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have conducted an evaluation of the licensing of oil palm plantations in eight regencies since 2018. The result of the evaluation will be used as a reference for the regional governments to decide whether the license of the oil palm company will continue or be revoked. On Feb. 25, 2021, the KPK delivered the evaluation result in a press conference. The government implemented the recommendation and revoked the concession license held by 12 companies. This kind of supervision and coordination is not new to the KPK, but it is not widely known by the public. Now is the time for the KPK to show that the anti-corruption commission is more than just sting operations.
Value Added Tax: Development and Controversy
The news that the Government will implement Value Added Tax (VAT/PPN) on staple products such as rice and beans surfaced after the draft of amendment to Law No. 6/1983 concerning General Provisions and Tax Procedures (KUP) was circulated to the public. Some parties have used this issue to sow dissent. That said, PPN exemption is nothing new. It has undergone many changes throughout the years.
Sangihe Gold Reserve and the Death of the Vice Regent
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.
Corruption Journal
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.
Tarunodjojo Nusa et al
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.
Social Assistance Graft Case : Proceedings Updates
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,...