The E-KTP Graft Case: Setya Novanto’s Involvement
Last week, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Setya Novanto appeared in public. He answered a court summon and attended the latest hearing of the trial of Andi Agustinus a.k.a Andi Narogong, the third suspect of the Electronic Identity Card (E-KTP) graft case. It was the second time Setya Novanto appeared as a witness in the trial of E-KTP graft suspects. He previously appeared as a witness in the trial of suspects Irman and Sugiharto back in April 2017. Setya Novanto still insists that he has no knowledge of the case, but the public prosecutors of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed several evidence to prove otherwise.
A New Investigation into the Jakarta Bay Reclamation Project
We know that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have been investigating the Jakarta Bay Reclamation project for over a year now, and all suspects ensnared have been convicted. Two weeks ago the KPK even announced that they’re considering to develop the investigation and to examine the involvement of corporations in the case. But last week, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) announced that they’re investigating a similar allegation of graft also concerning the Jakarta Bay Reclamation project, albeit related to a different matter. The investigation has been escalated for general inquisition.
The Judicial Review of the Perppu on AEoI
On May 2017, the Government published the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 1/2017 regarding Access to Financial Information for Taxation Purposes to regulate issue of Tax Information Exchange Agreement or Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information (AEoI). The regulation gives the Directorate General of Taxation the authority to ask and receive information in the field of taxation, but not everyone are willing to accept the regulation. On October 25, 2017, one Fernando Manullang registered a petition for Judicial Review against the content of the Perppu at the Constitutional Court (MK). The preliminary hearing was conducted on November 1, 2017.
Land Acquisition Corruption in JORR-2
After almost one decade of planning, physical construction of Cengkareng-Batu Ceper-Kunciran under the Jakarta Outer Ring Road (JORR)-2 entered physical construction on June 2017. This is a progress everyone wanted to see. Nevertheless, there’s an embarrassing reason behind the long overdue process: corruption in the process of land acquisition.
Corruption in Pertamina: SUGI and Edward Soeryadjaya
At the end of January 2017, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced that they had named the former President Director of Dana Pensiun Pertamina M. Helmi Kamal Lubis as a suspect in the problematic purchase of shares of PT Sugih Energy Tbk (SUGI) over the period of 2014-2015. On October 31, 2017, the AGO named Edward Soeryadjaya, who at the time of the incident was the majority shareholder of SUGI, as the new suspect.
The Trans-Seram Graft Case: Questions Unanswered
In January 2016 the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a Sting Operation that lead to the arrest of the then member of the House Commission V of the House of Representatives from PDI-P Damayanti Wisnu Putranti. The Sting Operation uncovered a corruption scheme in the construction of the Trans-Seram project. The investigation into the case quickly developed and to this day eight individuals, including three members of the House Commission V from three different political parties, have been convicted. Two suspects are left, including Musa Zainuddin (PKB) whose trial will end soon. Many questions, however, are still left unanswered.
The Yayasan Supersemar Dispute: The End?
It has been more than two years after the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) won the Reconsideration (PK) against Yayasan Supersemar, a foundation belonging to the family of former President Soeharto. The foundation was ordered to compensate the State in the amount of Rp4.4 trillion, but the verdict could not be executed yet because the foundation fought back and filed for a tort lawsuit in January 2016. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the AGO and rejected the tort lawsuit in the stage of cassation.
KPK and the Borrowed Investigators
Two weeks ago, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that they had returned two investigators from the Police because their term of service had expired. Many people questioned this decision, but the KPK said it was common practice. In exchange, the KPK received six new investigators. Earlier this week, several national media outlets reported that the two investigators returned were given heavy sanctions, and that they were returned after being alleged of tampering with evidence, i.e., financial records of companies owned by Basuki Hariman, a cattle importer convicted for bribing the former Constitutional Justice Patrialis Akbar.
Corporations in Cases of Corruption
The public prosecutor of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) read their demands for Dudung Purwadi, the former president director of PT Duta Graha Indah or DGI (now PT Nusa Konstruksi Enjiniring Tbk), who is now standing trial for his involvement in two cases of corruption related to the construction of South Sumatera Provincial Multipurpose Building (Wisma Atlet). The prosecutors asked the panel of judges to order the Company to compensate the State for losses.
Fireworks Ventures v. MCOR
On October 28, 2017 the legal counsel of one Edy Nusantara representing Fireworks Ventures Limited sent a letter to the Financial Service Authority (OJK) to seek protection in relation to a dispute that Fireworks had entered into with PT Bank China Construction Bank Indonesia Tbk (MCOR). This dispute has been going on for several years now, and it involves parties that goes back to the Government’s attempt to rescue the banking sector from the 1998 economic crisis through the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (BPPN).