PT Citra Sari Makmur (CSM), a Company founded by Subagio Wirjoatmodjo, is having a bad year. After being able to dodge several lawsuits for the past several years, the Company finally lost its battle in Jakarta State Administrative Court. The lawsuit they filed earlier this year was rejected several weeks ago, but the Company refused to surrender and had filed their appeal. Meanwhile, Subagio recently decided to fight in a different lawsuit. On Oct. 7, 2019, Subagio and two of his companies filed a tort lawsuit against Markworth Finance Limited, a firm with a link to the fallen Mossack Fonseca & Co (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

By the end of August 2018, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry raided the illegal mining activities carried out for PT Laman Mining. The Company is known to carry out bauxite mining activities at two different locations, namely the Puring and Kempapak areas, both of which are located within the Tulak River Conversion Production Forest (HPK) area in Ketapang, West Kalimantan. The Ministry conducted an investigation after the raid and named PT Laman Mining as a suspect. A year passed, in August 2019, the Prosecutor read out their demands. But unfortunately, last week, the Panel of Judges decided to release the Company. The Panel of Judges stated that the Company did carry out the actions mentioned in the indictment, but according to the Panel of Judges, the actions were not criminal offenses.

The trial of Sofyan Basir, the former President Director of PT PLN (Persero) who is a suspect in the Riau Power Plant graft case, will be over soon. During the hearing on October 7, 2019, the prosecutors read their demands, and Sofyan is scheduled to read his defense plea in two weeks.

Back in October 2018, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a Sting Operation in West Java and arrested several individuals, including the then Regent of Cirebon Sunjaya Purwadisastra. Sunjaya, who is a PDI-P politician and a retired military officer, was named suspected of bribery and of abuse of authority. All defendants had been convicted, but the investigation will not be over soon. Right before Sunjaya’s trial was over, several months ago, we learned that Sunjaya accepts bribery in exchange for his help on the continuation of the expansion of coal-fired power plants (PLTU), unit 2, in Cirebon. At around the same time, the Korea Times reported that Hyundai Engineering & Construction also has admitted bribing Sunjaya. What began as a small investigation on allegation of abuse of authority had turned into a call for an international investigation. About the development of the investigation, on October 4, 2019, the KPK named Sunjaya as a suspect in the case of money laundering.

Back in 2014, the public was shocked by the news that dozens of recently-bought TransJakarta bus fleets could not be used. The new fleet arrived rusted, and it came with missing components. The then Governor of Jakarta Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama was livid upon learning the news. Allegation of conspiracy in the procurement of the bus fleet emerged and was later investigated for corruption. The case brought down several people, including the then Head of the Transportation Department of the Jakarta Udar Pristono. The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) also examined the case for conspiracy. As many as 18 companies were found guilty. Udar and the companies decided to fight up to the cassation stage, but in early 2019, the cassation filed by Udar was rejected. The KPPU also convicted the companies in April 2019. We thought the problem was over, but it did not. Some companies are still disputing with each other, and at the end of September 2019, the dispute was registered to court.

After months of investigations and mounting efforts to end forest fires, last week, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry filed a lawsuit against a Company who they believe must be held accountable for the forest fires that spread in West Kalimantan. The low profile company may be unknown to the public, but it supposedly has familiar names behind it. 

On September 30, 2019, the Panel of Judges of the Commercial Court at the Semarang District Court decided to grant the lawsuit on Suspension of Debts Payment (PKPU) filed against six companies under the Duniatex Group. The companies will have to design their debt restructuring scheme and peace proposal during the temporary PKPU period within 45 days. The Group said they are ready to follow the legal process, and similar answers are given by the syndicated banks who are also the Group’s creditors.  

After several weeks of hearing, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) finally decided that PT Citra Prima Sejati, a subsidiary of PT Bumi Resources Tbk (BUMI), is guilty of delaying their notification of acquisition. Separately, the KPPU continue examining other companies allegedly of committing a similar violation. 

Two months ago, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a sting operation and arrested the Director of Finance of PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero). Investigators secured nearly Rp1 billion in cash, which are supposedly bribes for the director. The KPK told the press that the transaction might not be the first of its kind. The day after, the KPK named two suspects, the director is one of them. On October 2, 2019, the KPK announced that they had named a new suspect in the case, namely, the President Director of PT Industri Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Persero) (INTI).

Yesterday, the lawmakers of the House of Representatives for the period of 2019-2024 were sworn in. Stealing the spotlight is one Hillary Brigitta Lasut (Nasdem), the youngest lawmaker elected in North Sulawesi. But hearing the name, we instantly remember politician Elly Engelbert Lasut, who happens to be Hillary’s father. Hillary’s mother was also into politics. When Hillary was elected, our contacts in the province voiced their concern over the possibility of continuation of the local political dynasty, but the concern is not baseless and surely is not an exaggeration.