Near the end of 2017, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) uncovered a corruption scheme in Jambi. The investigation into the case brought down Governor Zumi Zola, who was convicted in December 2018. The KPK later named dozens of members of the Jambi DPRD as suspects. We noted that the investigation should get to the bottom of the problem because the trials of the convicts revealed allegation that over 50 members of the DPRD had received money from the scheme. On December 10, 2019, the Court read its verdict for the briber.

In August 2019, the Riau Regional Police announced that they had named a corporate suspect whom they believe is responsible for contributing to the spread of forest fires in the region. The Company is the first corporate suspect announced to the public this year related to forest fires. We recently learned that the docket of the case had been expedited to the stage of prosecution. The police also named the Company’s executive as a suspect. The first hearing of the trial is to be held on December 12, 2019.

Dec. 9 is International Anti-Corruption Day. This year, the Association of Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (Perkumpulan MAKI) will celebrate their way. MAKI’s leader Boyamin Saiman filed five pre-trial lawsuits demanding clarity on the status of five cases of corruption. The lawsuits were registered at the South Jakarta District Court. 

It feels like we have not been able to take a proper break from the hectic 2019 general election. Indonesia is already preparing for the 2020 simultaneous regional election, which will be held in September next year. In connection to that, the General Election Commission (KPU) announced that they were drafting a regulation that would ban ex-graft-convicts from participating in the upcoming regional elections. Unfortunately, the plan is once again postponed. 

Earlier last week, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced that they had arrested three individuals related to the corruption in the Jakarta High Prosecutors’ Office (Kejati Jakarta). Among the parties arrested are two active prosecutors.

On December 5, 2019, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) continued examining two cases: 1) concerning cartel practices and the soaring ticket rates and cargo transportation in the national aviation industry; and 2) alleged discrimination and unhealthy business practices involving Grab Indonesia (PT Solusi Transportasi Indonesia). The trials were held to listen to the accounts of witnesses. The hearing on Grab Indonesia was conducted as scheduled. As for the cartel case, the investigators decided to withdraw their proposal to examine the witness.  

By the end of October 2019, the trial of money laundering suspect Tubagus Chaeri Wardana (Wawan) finally started. Wawan is already a graft convict. While serving his term, he was named a suspect for committing another crime. Now he is standing trial in a separate case from the one of which he was convicted.

Back in March 2019, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) uncovered a bribery case involving Bowo Sidik Pangarso (who at the time was a member of the Commission VI of the House of Representatives representing Golkar) from a Sting Operation. Soon, their investigation into the case uncovered more allegations of crimes. Bowo allegedly received over Rp10 billion in grafts from several parties. On December 4, 2019, Bowo was declared guilty, although the trial failed to summon some of the names Bowo mentioned.

In July 2019, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a sting operation in the Riau Islands. The day after, the KPK announced the chronology of a case of bribery and named the suspects, one of which is the Riau Islands Governor one Nurdin Basirun. The KPK also named Nurdin a suspect of graft. Nurdin’s trial began on December 4, 2019.