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.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is still investigating the case of corruption in the city of Malang – which has already brought down over 40 people. Meanwhile, the trial of the second batch of defendants in the case completed last week. All defendants were found guilty. So far the Corruption Court of the Surabaya District Court has convicted 28 defendants. The trial of dozens of the remaining defendants is ongoing.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) made the Governor of Aceh Irwandi Yusuf a suspect of bribery following the sting operation conducted in July 2018. Other than Irwandi, the KPK also named three other suspects in the case. By October 2018, the KPK announced that they had named Irwandi a suspect in an additional graft case. Irwandi’s trial began on November 26, 2018, and on April 8, 2019, the Panel of Judges declared Irwandi guilty.

The Corruption Court of the Medan District Court recently held the first hearing of the trial of the disgraced Regent of Pakpak Bharat one Remigo Yolando Berutu, who is now a defendants in the case of alleged corruption. Remigo is indicted for receiving Rp1.6 billion in bribe. Separately, the Panel of Judges of the Corruption Court of the Bandung District Court read their verdict for the former Chief of the Sukamiskin Penitentiary Wahid Husein who was named suspect after being caught red-handed receiving bribes. Wahid was declared guilty and sentenced to 8 years imprisonment.