The hearing to examine the pre-trial lawsuit filed by Romahurmuziy, the chairman of United Development Party (PPP), against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) finally began on May 6, 2019. In the hearing, Rommy’s team of legal counsels lead by Maqdir Ismail mentioned several procedural errors allegedly done by the KPK when they arrested Rommy and named him a suspect. Separately, towards the end of last week the KPK finally announced that they had named the Mayor of Dumai a suspect in the Budget Mafia case, as we expected.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is still investigating the corruption case that has ensnared Bowo Sidik Pangarso (Golkar), member of the House Commission VI of the House of Representatives. Over the weekend, the investigators searched the office of Muhammad Nasir (Demokrat), member of the House Commission VII of the House of Representatives who is also the brother of Muhammad Nazaruddin. Separately, the KPK conducted a sting operation in East Kalimantan, through which several people were arrested. The KPK named three suspects in the bribery case, one of whom is a judge of the Balikpapan District Court.

The Jakarta provincial government pledged to start using electric buses for public transportation in 2018, but that has not happened. The idea got revived after the Governor repeatedly reiterated his intention in the past month. Three electric buses have been tested on Jakarta’s main roads since April 29, 2019. On May 5, 2019, the buses were exhibited to the public. Later, there will be ten buses operating in the trial period for the next 6 to 12 months. PT Transportasi Jakarta (Transjakarta) will not be purchasing the buses. Instead, they will use a rental system per kilometer from the operators of the electric buses. So we’re reminded of a corruption case related to the procurement of buses for Transjakarta involving the former head of the Jakarta transportation department one Udar Pristono. Not long ago, the Supreme Court rejected the cassation petition submitted by the suppliers of the buses (who was considered guilty of conspiration by the KPPU).

The Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court held the latest hearing of the trial of the alleged bribers in the case of corruption involving the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI). The Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi attended the hearing as a witness. Separately, after arresting Bowo Sidik Pangarso (Golkar), member of the House Commission VI of the House of Representatives, the KPK raided several places including the office and the residence of the Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukito (Nasdem). The KPK secured a number of documents, but not related to the main case which triggered the operation. At around the same time, the KPK continued investigating the case which ensnared the Chairman of PPP Romahurmuziy (Rommy) and summoned several witnesses to be examined including the Minister of Religious Affairs.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) recently conducted their latest sting operation and arrested several individuals including the Regent of Talaud Islands in North Sulawesi. The operation was conducted discreetly.

Last week, we reported that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) faced a new pre-trial lawsuit filed by the conglomerate Surya Darmadi, the owner of Duta Palma Group whose name was mentioned repeatedly for allegedly providing bribes in the case of bribery related to the conversion of forest land that had ensnared the disgraced Governor of Riau Annas Maamun. Surya had since filed a pre-trial lawsuit questioning the KPK’s decision to name him a suspect. It’s an interesting development given that the KPK had not announced anything. On the evening of April 29, 2019, the KPK finally announced that they were still investigating the aforementioned case, through the development of which they named Surya the new suspect in the case. Not only that, the KPK also named a new corporate suspect.

In April 2017, Dahlan Iskan was found guilty of abusing his power in the release of assets of PT Panca Wira Usaha, a company owned by the East Java Provincial Government. Dahlan immediately filed for an appeal, and the Panel of Appeals granted the application....

It has been almost a year since we’re exposed to the dispute in PT Tiga Pilar Sejahtera Food Tbk (AISA), but the problems in the Company have grown more complex. Two subsidiaries of PT Golden Plantation Tbk (GOLL), PT Bumiraya Investindo and PT Airlangga Sawit Jaya, are tangled by debts and both companies entered their period of Suspension of Debts Payment (PKPU) in March 2019. Recently, the Panel of Judges granted the companies’ request for additional time and the PKPU period was thus extended for 60 days.

PT Sunprima Nusantara Pembiayaan (SNP Finance) was bankrupt per October 2018, but as we all know, besides its debts dispute, the Company is also subject to police investigation for allegedly embezzling the credit facilities it received from 14 banks. The investigation is still ongoing and the case has caused collateral damages, including new lawsuits implicating other parties and the recent event when the public accounting firm (KAP) Satrio Bing Eny & Partners (part of Deloitte Indonesia) received sanction from the Financial Service Authority (OJK) in the form of cancellation of the firm’s registration. In the middle of the chaos, the process of insolvency of the primary case is stalled. The team of curators of the bankruptcy process apparently have not finished their duty to verify the creditors’ bills.

Last week the Corruption Court at the Tanjungkarang District Court read their verdict for the disgraced Regent of South Lampung one Zainudin Hasan. Zainudin was found guilty of corruption and money laundering. He was handed a heavier punishment compared to other graft convicts. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), however, were disappointed by the fact that the Panel of Judges did not mention the names of those they believed had played key roles in the case.