Two months after the trial of Markus Nari started, the prosecutors already read their demands during the latest hearing held on October 28, 2019. Markus, as we all know, is the latest defendant in the Electronic Identity Card (E-KTP) procurement graft case. 

It has been over four months since we were presented with a power struggle in PT Kawasan Industri Jababeka Tbk (KIJA), but the dispute will not be resolved soon. In July 2019, as we all know, KIJA announced that they had been sued over the result of the annual shareholders meeting (RUPST). Several days after that, they published a letter from the notary responsible in the RUPST. The letter contained an amendment to the minutes, especially for the fifth event, namely changes in the structure of the directors and board of commissioners. This letter, instead of clarifying the situation, raised questions. The proceeding is ongoing. The latest hearing was held on October 28, 2019, but several days before that, a new lawsuit was registered.

Since the beginning of October 2019, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) has been handing out sentences to the companies that had allegedly violated the law for delaying their notification of corporate action (re acquisition). Among the companies sentenced is PT Citra Prima Sejati, a subsidiary of PT Bumi Resources Tbk (BUMI). The Company was declared guilty in three different cases. PT Citra Prima Sejati thus filed their objections at the South Jakarta District Court. 

By the end of July 2019, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a sting operation and arrested the Director of Finance of PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero). The investigation into the operation uncovered a bribery scheme conducted between two State-Owned Enterprises, which, sadly, is not a surprise anymore. Two months later, the docket of the intermediary in the case is finished, and last week, his trial began.

Four years ago, we witness one of the worst forest fires ever happened in Indonesia. The situation forced the Government to take extra measures, including legal efforts. Far from media coverage, the battle continues to this day. Recently, the Palangka Raya district court announced its latest decision and declared one of the corporate suspects guilty. The Company, i.e., PT Arjuna Utama Sawit, is not an ordinary Company. 

The President expressed his desire to form two Omnibus Laws: Law on Employment Creation (Cipta Lapangan Kerja), and Law on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Empowerment (Pemberdayaan Usaha Mikro Kecil Menengah (UMKM)). That said, Omnibus Laws have never existed before in Indonesia. The legal system adopted by Indonesia is also different from the legal systems of other countries that use Omnibus Law. Those who understand the legal situation in Indonesia appreciate the President’s idea, but many things must be prepared.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, in his first second-term speech, noted five targets he’d like to achieve. One of them is simplifying various regulatory constraints. The Government, said Jokowi, would invite the House of Representatives to make two large-caliber laws that will later become Omnibus Laws—laws that are issued with various objectives and at the same time, revise many other relevant laws. 

In May 2019, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) held a Sting Operation in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, and arrested several people, including the then Head of the Immigration Office Kurniadie. Kurniadie asked for money in exchange for his help to stop investigating the case related to residence permits of two foreign nationals suspected of working for a company, even though they enter Indonesia using a tourist visa. The investigation of the bribery case took place far from the spotlight, and on October 23, 2019, the Corruption Court at the Mataram District Court had read the verdict for the briber. It is unfortunate to know that the investigation into this case did not get much attention, because even though it sounds trivial, the abuse of residence permits and abuse of authority in the field of immigration often occur. This needs to stop. 

Sanitiar Burhanuddin, a retired prosecutor, is the new Attorney General. ST Burhanuddin, as he familiarly known, is a very low profile figure with no affiliation to any political party. This is why the public has hope that he could lead the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) better than his predecessor HM Prasetyo. That said, some regretted Burhanudin’s appointment for he is the younger brother of senior PDI-P politician Tubagus Hasanuddin, familiarly known as TB Hasanuddin.

Some of the figures the President invited for his ministerial audition in the past few days are people linked to cases of corruption. They’re now to be named his ministers. Recall that two of Jokowi’s ministers of his previous cabinet are now graft suspects. Has the President made the right choice?