The Dead Witnesses
In the first week of Jan. 2021, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) informed that one of the witnesses in the case of alleged bribery for the lobster seed export license at the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries (KKP) had died. His death was reportedly due to an illness, but given the news that the witness is said to be one of the key witnesses in this case, we cannot ignore his death. We try to recall other incidents where key witnesses (in a case handled by the KPK or other institutions) died during the investigation and inquisition process.
An Update on Joker’s Case
The trial of cases related to Joko Tjandra will end soon. In the forgery case, all defendants have been found guilty. While in the bribery case, the intermediary in the case one Tommy Sumardi, Joko’s friend and in-law of Malaysia’s ousted Prime Minister Najib Razak, has been found guilty. We are still waiting for the verdict on Joko and the two police generals (Prasetijo Utomo and Napoleon Bonaparte) who are indicted for receiving approximately Rp9 billion in exchange for helping to erase Joko’s name from the fugitive list. Separately, the trial in the case of conspiracy with key defendant prosecutor Pinangki Sirna Malasari continues. After nearly four months of proceedings, the prosecutors had read their demands for Pinangki. But the demands are far from public satisfaction.
PKPU/Bankruptcy Journal: No. 2/2021
A company named PT Prakarsaguna Ciptapratama has on January 7, 2021 filed a suspension of debt payment obligation (PKPU) lawsuit against property developer PT Sentul City Tbk (BKSL). Humpuss Trading, a company controlled by Tommy Soeharto, meanwhile, filed PKPU lawsuit against PT Kasih Industri Indonesia and Mr Eka Wahyu Kasih.
PKPU/Bankruptcy Journal: No.1/2021
The Commercial Court of South Jakarta District Court kicked off the new year with lots of Suspension of Debt Payment Obligation (PKPU) filings, including those against some companies listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) and coal miners.
BUMN and Economic Recovery (2)
Towards the end of 2020, the Government fulfilled the provision of State Capital Participation (PMN) funds to several State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) with a total amount of over Rp35 trillion. The funds are still parts of the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program. The transfer was finalized with Government Regulations that briefly describe the use of the funds provided.
PKPU for Kresna Life
In November 2020, PT Asuransi Jiwa Kresna (known as Kresna Life linked to PT Kresna Graha Investama Tbk – KREN) was sued by one of its clients. Within less than a month, the company was forced to restructure its debts in a period of Suspension of Debts Payment (PKPU). The process is ongoing until today, but there is confusion regarding the court decision and the responsibility of the Financial Service Authority (OJK).
Prohibited Organization FPI, Finally…
By the end of 2016, we saw the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leading a band of religious conservatives to accuse the then Governor of Jakarta Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama of blasphemy. This movement briefly threatened the stability of the nation and emboldened the FPI to broadcast their deranged extremist views. An example of such views would be the accusation that the Central Bank had incorporated the logo of the banned communist party into the newly designed rupiah bills. The public has grown anxious to the point that calls for the disbandment of FPI emerged once more. But we have to wait for over three years of seemingly endless drama before it happens. On Dec. 30, 2020, the Government finally officially disbanded the FPI. The public rejoices, but FPI resist. We wonder what will happen after this decision.
Latest on Joker’s Case
The trial of Joko Tjandra bribery case will end soon. The intermediary in the case one Tommy Sumardi, Joko’s friend and also in-law of Malaysia’s ousted Prime Minister Najib Razak, has been found guilty. The Panel of Judges, however, accepted his request to be a Justice Collaborator so we wonder what will happen after the trial ended. We are now waiting for the verdict on the two police generals (Prasetijo Utomo and Napoleon Bonaparte) who are indicted of receiving approximately Rp9 billion in exchange for helping to erase Joko’s name from the fugitive list. Separately, the trial in the case of conspiracy with key defendant Pinangki Sirna Malasari, continues. After only less than two months of proceedings, the prosecutors had read their demands for Pinangki’s counterpart Andi Irfan.
On the Water Supply Bribery Case : Latest Trials
It has been over two years since 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 had ensnared a lot of people and the latest perpetrator with the highest authority ensnared is member of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) one Rizal Djalil, who was senior politician from the National Mandate Party (PAN). Recently the trials of Rizal and one other suspect started, and judging from the content of their indictment, we hope the KPK will not stop investigating.
Tax Issues on Electronic Transactions
The Indonesian Government is using the COVID-19 pandemic to implement several plans that have been stalled for some time, including collecting taxes from electronic system transactions (PMSE). Until the end of 2020, however, there are reportedly several companies who have not fulfilled their obligations. In addition, there is a new ministerial regulation related to the policy.