Tubagus Chaeri Wardana (Wawan) —brother of former Banten governor Ratu Atut— is a graft convict. He is also standing trial in a separate case from the one of which he was convicted. It is one of the largest money laundering cases in the country. It reveals how Wawan used his sister’s power to commit crimes in various ways. Nevertheless, the trial has gone largely outside of media coverage. The trial continued on July 9, 2020 with Wawan reading his defense plea. Despite all the accounts and evidence presented in the proceedings, Wawan still had the nerves to ask for acquittal.

On July 7, 2020, several social media portals buzzed with the news of users claiming they were able to access services from Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) even though they’re using an internet network associated with PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (TLKM). TLKM decided to block access to NFLX beginning in 2016. On the same day, the Government announced a list of international companies determined as collectors, reporters, and depositors of Value Added Tax (PPN) on digital goods and services sold in Indonesia. One of the companies on the list is Netflix Streaming Services International BV, the Amsterdam unit of NFLX.

The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) recently announced new suspects in the case of alleged fraud related to the Koperasi Simpan Pinjam (Kospin) Indosurya Cipta. In addition to one new individual suspect, the Bareskrim also named Kospin as a corporate suspect. Meanwhile, Kospin’s process of Suspension of Debts Payment (PKPU) continues. The creditors were supposed to vote for the peace proposal on July 6, 2020, but the meeting was postponed. It is scheduled to be resumed today, July 8, 2020. 

In October 2019, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a sting operation and arrested several people including then Regent of Indramayu one Supendi (Golkar). The inquisition continued far from media attention. The trial started in December 2019. Supendi and the remaining defendants were recently found guilty. 

The trial of the disgraced Regent of North Lampung one Agung Ilmu Mangkunegara (Nasdem) ended recently. Agung Ilmu who stands trial for allegedly asking for grafts was found guilty. The other defendants in the case were also declared guilty. Separately, the trials in the case of corruption involving the Commissioner of PT Wahana Auto Ekamarga one Darwin Maspolim— who supposedly bribed several officials of the Tax Office—also ended recently. All former officials of the Tax Office have been found guilty. 

Joko Soegiarto Tjandra, otherwise known as Djoko Tjandra, has been a hot topic for the past week. Joko was convicted in the Bank Bali cessie case and is an international fugitive. But in early June 2020, Joko was able to freely return to Indonesia, officially renew his E-KTP, and register his Reconsideration (PK) petition in person at the South Jakarta District Court. From the series of events, no one was aware of his presence other than his legal counsel. The Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights are busy explaining themselves to the House of Representatives. The ridiculous incident aside, we look at the argument Joko uses in his Reconsideration petition.

Despite strong objections from Grab Indonesia, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) continued examining the allegations of unhealthy business practices in the Company. The examination stage lasted nearly ten months. The last time we reported on the matter was in March 2020, before the COVID-19 outbreak forced the KPPU to cease its operation. The KPPU continued working recently. On July 2, 2020, the Assembly declared Grab Indonesia and its partner PT Teknologi Pengangkutan Indonesia (PT TPI) guilty. 

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) held a sting operation in Jakarta and East Kalimantan on the afternoon of July 2, 2020. By July 3, 2020, the KPK announced seven suspects of bribery. Among those in the receiving end are the Regent of East Kutai one Ismunandar (Nasdem) and his wife Encek Unguria R Firgasih, who happens to be the Chief of the regency’s DPRD from PPP. 

In the midst of various controversial policies from Governor Anies Baswedan that are deemed negligent in times of pandemic, the Governor recently issued another, and even more controversial decision, related to reclamation. During his campaign against then Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama back in 2017, Anies Baswedan promised to stop the reclamation project planned in the Jakarta Bay. But after taking the office, Anies is unable to keep his promise. Now, he issued permission on a new reclamation project. This extends the list of Anies’ lies.

The process of Suspension of Debt Payment (PKPU) of Koperasi Simpan Pinjam Indosurya Cipta (Kospin)—-a cooperative running operations like a bank with over US$1 billion of funds from third parties vanished—-was supposed to be determined during the meeting held on July 2, 2020. However, the clients are not satisfied with the peace proposal submitted to them and therefore the Company said they will provide another proposal with a more detailed explanations. The meeting will resume on July 6, 2020.