On February 1, 2019, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Samin Tan, the owner of PT Borneo Lumbung Energi & Metal Tbk (BORN), a suspect of bribery ending months of speculation. Samin’s case is a result of a development of the investigation into the allegation of corruption in the construction of the Riau Power Plant. Samin allegedly bribed Eni Maulani Saragih, the key person in the power plant graft case for a different matter.

Last week, the Commercial Court of the Central Jakarta District Court registered a bankruptcy lawsuit filed by one person against seven companies. We later found out that the companies mentioned operates in East Kalimantan and are part of the Mahakam Group or Kalpataru Group as often referred to by the local media outlets. The group is low profile but several years ago Singapore-based Sindopalm Pte Ltd, a company with affiliation to one of the Group’s entity, signed a deal with Singapore-based PTT Green Energy Pte Ltd (part of Thailand State-owned PTT Public Company Limited).

Nearly two years ago the Government of Indonesia announced the plan to disband the notorious community organization (Ormas) Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI). After over a year of proceedings at three levels of court, on February 14, 2019, the Supreme Court (MA) decided to reject HTI’s cassation petition. The MK upheld the verdict of the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN Jakarta), and thus HTI is now officially disbanded.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a sting operation in Ambon, Maluku, back in October 2018. The day after the KPK held a press conference and said that they had named the Head of Ambon City Primary Tax Office (KPP) one La Masikamba, a tax examiner one Sulimin Ratmin, and one Anthony Liando graft suspects. The case entered the stage of prosecution in only two months and Anthony was convicted last month. The docket of La Masikamba was expedited on February 13, 2019. The Corruption Court at Ambon District Court has scheduled the first hearing for February 19, 2019.

Since the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) uncovered a huge corruption scheme in the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing on the construction of Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM) throughout Indonesia, their investigators have not stopped searching for evidence. Several days ago, the KPK announced the total amount of cash they had seized from the operation. Dozens of Commitment-making Officers (PPK) decided to return the money they had received to the KPK. It is interesting that the said PPKs are not the suspects. Separately, the KPK also continued searching for evidence of corruption in PT Waskita Karya (Persero) Tbk (WSKT).

In December 2018, PT Smartfren Telecom Tbk (FREN) filed a lawsuit against the Kominfo of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) and demanded the Kominfo to cancel the implementation of three letters. The court registry noted that they had declined the request on January 10, 2019. There was no information on the continuation of the examination of the lawsuit thereafter, but on February 12, 2019, FREN again filed a similar lawsuit against Kominfo.

The trial of the suspects of corruption involving PT Binasawit Abadi Pratama (BAP) and several members of the Central Kalimantan Regional Representative Council (DPRD) continues. The latest hearing was held on January 13, 2019, from which we learned that the graft began with “initiatives” from the DPRD.

The Deputy Chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) one Laode Syarif recently told the press that the bribery case involving the former Chairman of MatahariMall.com and former CEO of PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Emirsyah Satar would soon enter the prosecution stage. The statement was made after Syarif held a meeting with the U.K. Deputy Head of Mission to Indonesia, ASEAN and Timor Leste one Rob Fenn. Syarif said that they had have all the needed documents related to the case. They asked the public to be patient, but we have been patient enough since the KPK first announced the investigation back in January 2017.

In December 2018, Johannes Budisutrisno Kotjo, a defendant in the case of corruption in the construction of the Riau Power Plant, was deemed guilty and sentenced to 2 years and 8 months imprisonment. Johannes accepted the verdict and did not appeal, but the prosecutors of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) refused to accept the verdict and filed an appeal. The Jakarta High Court granted the KPK’s appeal over a week ago. Johannes’ sentences were aggravated. The trial of Eni Maulani Saragih, meanwhile, continues. We expect to hear to court’s verdict in the near future. The trial of Idrus Marham is still in the stage of listening to the witnesses accounts.