The President is to officially announce the ministers of his new cabinet today (Oct. 23). It is almost certain that the Minister of Environment and Forestry will not be replaced. With this news, there is hope that the performance of the Ministry will be improved. Regardless of the political decision, the investigation into the case of forest fires that happened and is still happening in several regions throughout Indonesia continues. As of this week, there are nearly 400 suspects, including dozens of corporate suspects.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is dealing with a lot of issues lately, but their job will not become easier soon. Recently, two people who the KPK named suspects in two different cases of alleged corruption filed pre-trial lawsuits against the commission, and the trials are ongoing. In the meantime, the trial of the latest defendant in the E-KTP graft case Markus Nari continues. 

The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) continues to examine the companies that had allegedly violated the laws for delaying their notification of the acquisition. The KPPU previously declared three companies guilty. Last week, the KPPU decided that other companies are liable. So far, several subsidiaries of PT Bumi Resources Tbk (BUMI) had been affected by the examinations. 

The trial of Bowo Sidik Pangarso (a member of the Commission VI of the House of Representatives representing Golkar) who was caught in a Sting Operation for allegedly receiving bribes is ongoing, but the KPK continue their investigation into the case. On August 16, 2019, KPK announced that they had named a new suspect. 

In July 2018, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a Sting Operation inside the Sukamiskin Penitentiary, the facility used to detain almost all high-profile graft-convicts. The KPK managed to arrest six individuals and named four suspects in the case, including the main convict in the Bakamla graft case Fahmi Darmawansyah and the Chief of the Sukamiskin Penitentiary Wahid Husein. The operation brought the spotlight onto the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. But even after the trial ended, we have not heard of any intense examination of the Ministry. We wonder why. However, the investigation continues. On October 16, 2019, the KPK announced that they had named five new suspects in the case, including the former Regent of Bangkalan, one Fuad Amin Imron, who passed away in September 2019.

Along with the sting operation in East Kalimantan, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) also apparently conducted a sting operation in North Sumatera. In the same press conference held on October 16, 2019, the KPK named several suspects, including the Mayor of Medan. The Mayor is the third regional leader of North Sumatera arrested in a sting operation in the past two years. What outrageous is that we can barely count how many regional leaders from all levels in North Sumatera who have to deal with the KPK. We wonder if the KPK not scary enough, that’s why this case keeps repeating in North Sumatera.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a sting operation on October 15, 2019, in East Kalimantan. Several people allegedly involved in a bribery scheme related to the construction of a national road. 

Seven months ago, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a sting operation related to bribery in PT Krakatau Steel (Persero) Tbk (KRAS). The KPK named several people as suspects, including KRAS’ Director of Technology and Production one Wisnu Kuncoro. Recently, the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court listened to the prosecutors’ demands for Wisnu and his intermediary while the bribers have been found guilty and convicted.