Over four months after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) uncovered a bribery case involving Bowo Sidik Pangarso (a member of the Commission VI of the House of Representatives representing Golkar) the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court held the first hearing of his trial. KPK prosecutors read their indictment for Bowo on August 14, 2019. 

After years of waiting, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced that they had named four new suspects in the case of corruption in the procurement process of the electronic identity card (E-KTP). There is nothing new in the announcement, so we’re not that amused, but let’s review the connection between the latest suspects and other parties mentioned in the trials.

By the end of July 2019, several national media outlets reported that one Kusnadi Rahardja had filed a tort lawsuit against PT Sushi-Tei Indonesia. Kusnadi, the founder of Boga Group, was the one who brought the brand Sushi-Tei to Indonesia, and he was the president director of the Company until recently. Kusnadi said he was forced to leave the Company and had not received his rights, so he sued dozens of parties for compensation. The South Jakarta District Court scheduled the first hearing to be held on around October 2019 or even November 2019, this is probably why Kusnadi felt the need to file another lawsuit. The Central Jakarta District Court recently disclose that Kusnadi had filed a tort lawsuit on August 8, 2019. The court scheduled the first hearing earlier than the South Jakarta District Court, i.e., September 3, 2019. 

The devastating 2015 forest fires started a new journey in the Government’s battle against the perpetrators of forest fires. The perpetrators are not only individuals but also companies. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry had imposed various sanctions to over 20 companies and by the end of that year, the Government began filing lawsuits to dozens of district courts. In 2019, a new battle has begun.The forest fires that recently broke in parts of Sumatera and Kalimantan have worsened. The police recently announced they had named 60 individual suspects and 1 corporate suspect, most are believed to be responsible for the fires in Sumatera. Meanwhile, the Ministry stated they had sealed 7 companies in West Kalimantan, while the Governor of West Kalimantan reportedly summoned the officials of nearly 100 companies to warn them of their responsibilities. 

Last week the South Jakarta District Court registered three pre-trial lawsuits against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The plaintiff is the Perkumpulan MAKI lead by Boyamin Saiman. One of the lawsuits demanded the KPK to continue their investigation into the Bank Century case and to name new suspects. Coincidentally, we learned that the Supreme Court had rejected the petition for Reconsideration (PK) filed by Hartawan Aluwi, who is a convict in a case related to the Bank Century case. 

Last week the Central Jakarta District Court registered a fraud lawsuit against one Goutam Shamdepchand. Goutam is a convict guilty of embezzlement related to PT Bank Yudha Bhakti Tbk (BBYB). He and the former director of the Bank were found guilty, but now Goutam must again face a trial.

In mid-2018 the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) makes a move in East Java and conducted a double sting operation. KPK arrested several people including the Regent of Tulungagung one Syahri Mulyo and Mayor of Blitar one Samanhudi, and both are PDI-P politicians. The investigation into the case in Tulungagung continues to this day after the KPK named new suspect in the case earlier this year. Recently, the KPK raided several places in East Java related to the case in Tulungagung, among the places raided, were the resident of the former aide of the former Governor of East Java Soekarwo. We can’t help but remember that Soekarwo was allegedly involved in a graft case. 

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) started yet another sting operation in the evening of August 7, 2019. The operation lasted until the afternoon of August 8, 2019 with a total of 13 people arrested with the allegation of bribery in the issuance of garlic import licenses. Towards midnight of August 8, 2019, the KPK announced they had named 6 suspects in the case including I Nyoman Dhamantra, a member of the House Commission VI of the House of Representatives from PDI-P.

The Central Jakarta District Court finally registered the lawsuit filed by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) against Markus Nari (Golkar). Markus, as we all know, was named a suspect in the E-KTP graft case more than two years ago but somehow nothing happened. Knowing that seven other people ensnared in relation to the case had been convicted—even those arrested after Markus—we wondered what went wrong. And yet, despite no progress with Markus Nari, the KPK have been saying that they would soon name new suspects.

Earlier this week the Central Jakarta District Court registered a lawsuit on Suspension of Debts Payment filed against PT KIA Indonesia Motor, subsidiary of PT KIA Mobil Indonesia. The Company supposedly have over US$17 million debts to two creditors. We know that the rumor of KIA Indonesia’s bankruptcy had been circulated for over a year now. Does this lawsuit mean the Company is struggling?