Revisiting the Benoa Bay Reclamation
It has been two years since the last time we talked about the Benoa Bay reclamation project. This year, talks of project once again emerged as the simultaneous regional election in Bali will be held soon and the location license for the project is set to expire in August 2018.
Corruption Journal: Kendari, Subang, and Kebumen
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been very busy lately, not only with the ongoing investigations, but also in facing the trials of the perpetrators. And since the cases happens in various regions all over the country, some of the trials are being held in the respective district courts. This week, the KPK attended the trial of the graft suspects in Kendari, Subang and Kebumen.
Nippon Catalyst Pte Ltd v TPPI and Pertamina
Until today, the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri) is still struggling to meet the demands required by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) before they can continue the investigation into the case of alleged corruption involving PT Trans Pacific Petrochemical Indotama (TPPI) to the stage of prosecution. We recently found out that the Singapore High Court had been examining a dispute involving the same Company. It is Nippon Catalyst Pte Ltd, one of the Company’s shareholder, who filed for the lawsuit to be examined in Singapore. Last week, the High Court published their decision on the appeal filed by Nippon against the previous assistant registrar’s decision.
Challenges Continue for Freeport
Three months ago PT Freeport Indonesia was sued in two different district courts. One lawsuit is related to the Company’s decision to terminate their workers’ and employees’ health insurance, and the other is related to the dispute over the rights to scrap iron waste. Not long after, a class action lawsuit followed. Here’s where we are today.
Judicial Review on the Law on State-Owned Enterprises
In December 2016, the Government promulgated the Government Regulation (PP) No. 72/2016 (to revise the PP No. 44/2005 on Procedure and Administration of the State Capital Investment in State-Owned Enterprises and Limited Liability Companies). The PP 72/2016 was meant to protect the Government’s plan to establish holding companies for State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN). Several months later, the Government issued PP No. 47/2017 as the the legal basis for the establishment of PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminum (Inalum) (Persero) as the holding company of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) in the field of mining. The legality of two PPs were then challenged at the Supreme Court. On March 2018, in relation to the issuance of the two PP, several parties decided to file a Judicial Review on the Law No. 19/2003 on State-Owned Enterprises at the Constitutional Court. The latest hearing was held on May 23, 2018.
Law Journal
PT Pazia Pillar Mercycom, one of Indonesia’s well-known electronics retailer, escaped the threat of bankruptcy last year. That said, the Company still has many problems. The peace agreement was quickly sued by the Company’s creditors and the President Director of the Company was investigated in a criminal case. Last week, the Central Jakarta District Court registered a case mentioning the name of the President Director as a defendant in a case of alleged embezzlement, but around the same time, the Company also filed a lawsuit at the West Jakarta District Court related to the same dispute.
The Counter-Terrorism Law Amended
After almost three years of waiting, the House of Representatives finally promulgated the amendment to the Counter-Terrorism Law on Friday last week. There are several new things mentioned in the amendment, making it a stark contrast compared to the previous law. The Government has not published the final version of the amendment, but the House of Representatives has mentioned the most crucial points in the new law.
Corruption Journal
The Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court held the first hearing on the trial of the former Regent of Hulu Sungai Tengah (HST) Abdul Latif on May 24, 2018. Abdul stands trial as a suspect of bribery. At the same day, the same court read their verdict for the person who gave the bribes to Abdul Latif. Separately, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced the chronology of their latest Sting Operation in Southeast Sulawesi.
Corruption Journal
On May 23, 2018, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted another Sting Operation in Southeast Sulawesi during which they arrested the Regent of South Buton, who’s only been in office for a year. The KPK also examined several Golkar politicians to continue their investigation into the bribery involving the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla). Separately, the Attorney General’s Office named a new suspect in a corruption case involving PT Sang Hyang Seri (Persero).
Lawsuit Against Duta Pertiwi Tbk
Last week, dozens of individuals filed a lawsuit against PT Duta Pertiwi Tbk (DUTI), the sister company of PT Bumi Serpong Damai Tbk (BSDE). The plaintiffs claimed to be owners of land where DUTI had planned to build their next project. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs demanded a compensation of over Rp5 trillion.