The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), under the leadership of Police General Firli Bahuri, has almost always received criticism. It’s been called out for unethical conduct, something unheard of in the previous KPK leaderships. Firli’s KPK has also been criticized for its weak performance. Indeed, Sting Operations were not as intensively carried out as before. Things, however, began to change in the last two weeks. The KPK has been aggressively conducting Sting Operations. It managed to catch two regional leaders and two active Ministers. A Sting Operation conducted last week resulted in the arrest of the Regent of Banggai Laut in Central Sulawesi. 

Two years ago the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a Sting Operation and uncovered a vast corruption scheme involving civil servants under the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing. The scheme related to the construction of dozens of Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM) projects, conducted across Indonesia. All suspects were convicted by mid-2019, but the KPK did not stop investigating. On September 25, 2019, the KPK named two new suspects in the case, including the member of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) one Rizal Djalil. Recently the KPK resume the process and we finally learn more details on the development of investigation.

The forest fires in 2014, 2015 and 2019 resulted in losses and casualties. It even caused problems in neighboring countries that forced the Government to respond aggressively. The number of suspected perpetrators being tried in court has increased dramatically within the past four years and the process is still ongoing. The Government can be said to be successful because it won many major lawsuits against corporate suspects. Nevertheless, the execution process on legally binding verdicts still faces problems.

After the arrest of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly receiving bribes in the process of exporting Clear Lobster Seed (BBL), the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries (KKP) has temporarily suspended the BBL export activities. Meanwhile, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU), which had announced the alleged irregularities related to the same export activities prior to the Sting Operation, stated that it was still trying to gather evidence as an absolute prerequisite to escalate the investigation process to the stage of examination in court.

In July 2020 President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo disbanded 18 institutions at once. The President stated that the downsizing was carried out to simplify bureaucracy. Four months later, last week, the President dissolved 10 more institutions. The President has repeatedly said that a winning country is not a big country but a fast country. 

Taufik Agustono, the director of PT Humpuss Transportasi Kimia (PT HTK), who stands trial for allegedly bribing Bowo Sidik Pangarso (who at the time was a member of the Commission VI of the House of Representatives representing Golkar), was found guilty on the last day of Nov. 2020. Separately,  the trial of prosecutor Pinangki Sirna Malasari, who supposedly conspired in the scheme to help fugitive Joko Soegiarto Tjandra, continues.

On Nov. 27, 2020, the Central Jakarta District Court registered a tort lawsuit filed by the troubled PT Gunung Bara Utama (PT GBU), a subsidiary of PT Trada Alam Minera Tbk (TRAM). There are three defendants listed, including PT Rimba Raya Lestari (PT RRL), who is also surrounded by problems. 

In June 2020, PT Grama Bazita, a part of the Grama Bazita Group that provides services in the engineering sector, filed a Suspension of Debt Payment (PKPU) lawsuit against CNQC-MTRA JO, PT Mitra Pemuda Tbk (MTRA), and Qingjian International (South Pacific) Group Development Co Pte Ltd. On Nov. 9, 2020, the PKPU process failed to reach agreement and the defendants were declared bankrupt. The bankruptcy process has begun and creditors are required to submit their bills by Dec. 8, 2020.

On Nov. 27, 2020, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) held a Sting Operation and arrested dozens of individuals, including the Mayor of Cimahi Ajay Muhammad Priatna (PDIP). Ajay was immediately named a suspect for accepting Rp1.6 billion in grafts. Ajay is the third Mayor of Cimahi since the municipality was established in 2001, and he is also the third mayor ensnared in a case of corruption.

On Nov. 25, 2020 the Commercial Court at the Central Jakarta District Court registered a lawsuit on Suspension of Debt Payment (PKPU) against PT Net Mediatama Televisi (NET TV). The lawsuit filed by one Bambang Sutrisno Kusnadi is intended for a debt restructuring process in the company. Unfortunately the court has not disclosed more information. NET TV, meanwhile, has already released its statement.