Nearing the end of their term, the leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced two new inquisitions. One case is related to the bribery involving the Lippo group, and the other is related to the case of corruption in the Ministry of Religious Affairs (which was first uncovered over seven years ago). The first suspect in the case in the Ministry of Religious Affairs was convicted in 2013. We wonder why the KPK has decided to announce the inquisition now.

Three months ago, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) uncovered a case of corruption involving officials of PT Perkebunan Nusantara III (Persero) (PTPN III) after conducting a sting operation in Jakarta. The KPK arrested several people and soon after named three suspects, including the Managing Director of PTPN III. What began as a simple operation unraveled into a big case. The trial of the briber in the case started last month. The latest hearing was held on December 16, 2019. Meanwhile, the investigation continues.

Three months ago, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted three sting operations in three different regions, including in West Kalimantan. The KPK later announced that they commenced investigation and inquisition into a case of alleged corruption in the regency of Bengkayang and named as many as seven suspects, including the Regent of Bengkayang one Suryadman Gidot (Demokrat). The trial of four of the bribers began several weeks ago, and on December 16, 2019, the trial of the last briber followed. 

Apart from cases related to the procurement of goods in construction projects, we notice that the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) is paying more attention to the corporates responsibility to report their corporate actions (merger and acquisition). The KPPU plan on intensifying the socialization of this obligation to prevent legal violations. We admit that the socialization will be useful, but this is such an ironic plan because the law regulating this obligation had been promulgated since 1999.

Back in April 2019, we reported that the Bali regional police had named the former Vice Governor of Bali I Ketut Sudikerta a suspect of money laundering related to a dispute in the Maspion Group (Alim Husni Family). The inquisition and trial continued without much attention. Last week, the prosecutors read their demand for Sudikerta. They believed Sudikerta is guilty and demand the Panel of Judges to punish him to 15 years imprisonment.

The President signed the President Regulation (Perpres) on the Implementation of Principles of Recognizing the Beneficiaries of Corporations in the Framework of the Prevention and Eradication of Money Laundering and Criminal Acts of Terrorism, otherwise known as the Perpres on Beneficial Ownership, on March 1, 2018. And yet it took the Government close to two years to issue the implementing regulations for the said Perpres.

On December 12, 2019, the Commercial Court at the Central Jakarta District Court registered a lawsuit on Suspension of Debts Payment filed by two aviation companies against one other aviation company. The lawsuit itself is just an ordinary lawsuit. The parties in dispute are what makes the case interesting.

Commercial court of Central Jakarta has ruled in favour of investor Indra Setiawan in his lawsuit against PT Topaz Investment, Heru Hidayat, PT Dhanawibawa Sekuritas, PT Permai Alam Sentosa, and PT Kustodia Sentral Efek Indonesia related to a dispute over stock repurchase agreement otherwise popular as Repo deal.

Several days ago, we reported that the General Election Commission (KPU) had decided to postpone the publication of a regulation that would ban ex-graft-convicts from participating in the upcoming regional elections. On December 11, 2019, the Constitutional Court (MK) decided to partially grant the judicial review petition filed by the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) and the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem). MK ruled that ex-graft convicts must wait for five years after completing their prison term before they could enter politics. The Decision is a gamechanger, but we have to note that it’s only related to the Law No. 10/2016 on Elections of Regional Leaders. 

Five months after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a sting operation in the Riau Islands, the corruption court declared one defendant in the graft case guilty. Trials of the other defendants are ongoing, and so are the investigation and inquisition process.