On February 1, 2019, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Samin Tan, owner of PT Borneo Lumbung Energi & Metal Tbk (BORN), a suspect of bribery. Samin was investigated after the KPK looked into the allegations of corruption related to the construction of the Riau Power Plant; a case that ensnared conglomerate Johannes Kotjo and former Minister of Social Affairs Idrus Marham (Golkar). We all know, however, that Samin had nothing to do with the power plant. Samin allegedly bribed Eni Maulani Saragih (who is the key person in the power plant graft case) in an attempt to save his other company PT Asmin Koalindo Tuhup. Recently, the KPK issued a new travel ban on Samin and his director. The KPK also continued with the examination of several witnesses. We later learned that Samin tried to file a pre-trial lawsuit only to withdraw it not long after.

The Bank Century bailout case is arguably one of the biggest corruption cases. Robert Tantular is the name we cannot forget for his affiliation in this case. This case has only brought down the former Deputy of Bank Indonesia (BI) for Monetary and Foreign Exchange Management Division one Budi Mulya, while the owner of Bank Century Robert Tantular was snared with four different regular criminal charges. Robert surprised everyone at the end of 2018 when he was released on parole though he’s supposed to spend over 20 years in prison. After he was released, he submitted a Judicial Review petition at the Constitutional Court questioning his trials and its procedures which he deemed unfair.

Two months ago we reported that the North Sumatera Regional Police (Polda Sumut) had named one Musa Idi Shah (or Idishah – familiarly known as Dody), the brother of the current Vice Governor of North Sumatera one Musa Rajek Shah (or Rajekshah – familiarly known as Ijeck), a suspect of violation in the process of conversion of protected forests land into palm plantations. Last week, the police escalated the status of the case’s investigation on Ijeck into inquisition, although Ijeck is still a witness today. The police scheduled an examination several days after the inquisition process was announced but Ijeck did not answer the summon. The police said they would schedule another examination soon.

The trial of the bribers in the Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM) construction projects began on March 20, 2019. On April 15, 2019, the court listened to the accounts of an important witness. In the meantime, the examination of witnesses in the stage of inquisition of the bribees continues. The witnesses summoned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) include representatives of several companies.

The trial of Karen Agustiawan, the former president director of PT Pertamina (Persero) who is now a defendant in the case of alleged corruption related to the purchase of shares of Australia-based ROC Oil Company Limited by Pertamina, continues. Last week, the court listened to accounts of the former Commissioners of Pertamina.

Ten years have passed since the Montara H1-ST1 wellhead caught fire in 2009. The incident supposedly caused environmental damages all the way to Indonesia’s coast. The companies involved in the case, however, insisted on their innocence. On May 2017, the Government decided to file a civil lawsuit against the companies but they then withdrew. Last year, in his statement to the Press, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Panjaitan said that the Government and the Thailand Government were aware of the importance of the case and that it was possible that the case would be resolved outside of the court. Recently, the Government’s representatives said they would visit Australia to hold a meeting for a week starting next week in hope that the dispute could be resolved within six months. Meanwhile, the proceedings on the class action lawsuit filed in 2016 is ongoing and the latest hearing was held on March 21, 2019.

Indonesia's Environmental Foundation (WALHI) filed a lawsuit against the Government in late last year against the Head of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). At the heart of the lawsuit is the Head of BKPM's decision to grant a Production Operation...

The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) continue the hearing on the case of alleged cartel-like practices related to the increase of salt prices in December 2018. In March the KPPU held hearings for three days in a row in Surabaya. Recently, the hearing continued, and the KPPU listened to the accounts of representatives of PT Garam (Persero), a state-owned salt producer.

Three years ago we reported on the internal conflict in the family behind Maspion Group (Alim Husni Family) and visited several problems which caused the dispute. Last week, the Bali regional police surprisingly named the former vice governor of Bali I Ketut Sudikerta a suspect in the case of alleged money laundering related to one of the problems we mentioned back then. On April 10, 2019, the police named two new suspects in the case.

Over a year ago the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced that they had a new inquisition on a case involving State-Owned Insurance Company PT Asuransi Jasa Indonesia (Jasindo). The case concerns the provision of insurance services for the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Body (BP Migas, now SKK-Migas). The KPK named Jasindo’s former President Director Budi Tjahjono a suspect, but the inquisition was stalled for over a year. The KPK only resume examination in July 2018. Budi was immediately detained and his trial began on December 5, 2018. After four months of trial, on April 10, 2019, the court declare Budi guilty.