Corruption Journal: Andi Narogong’s Verdict, and OC Kaligis’ Reconsideration
Andi Agustinus a.k.a Andi Narogong, a key actor in the electronic identity card (E-KTP) procurement graft case, was deemed guilty of all charges on December 21, 2017. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) made him a Justice Collaborator, and so it appears that a deal was struck, perhaps in an effort to enlist Andi Narogong’s help in bringing in other suspects. The Panel of Judges sentenced Andi as per the prosecutors’ demand, and Andi accepted the verdict. Separately, the Supreme Court partially granted the Reconsideration (PK) filed by Otto Cornelis “OC” Kaligis, the senior advocate who was caught for bribing three judges of the Medan State Administrative Court back in 2015. The Assembly of Reconsideration decided to annul the verdict published at the stage of cassation and this means OC Kaligis will have to accept the verdict issued at the stage of appeal.
Law Journal: RAPP’s Lawsuit, and the BLBI Graft Case
The dispute between the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) (APRIL Group) is finally over. The Panel of Judges decided that they cannot accept the lawsuit. Separately, the Corruption Eradication Commission detained Syafruddin Arsyad Temenggung, the former chairman of the Indonesia’s Bank Restructuring Agency (BPPN), the sole suspect in the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) graft case.
Dispute within PT Permata Prima Sakti
On December 15, 2017, the South Jakarta District Court Registered a lawsuit filed by one Aris Munandar, who is the Director of PT Permata Prima Sakti Tbk (TKGA). Aris filed the lawsuit against the Company, the President Commissioner one Syafruddin, and the President Director one Herry Beng Koestanto.
Waiting for the President Regulation on Beneficial Ownership
The draft of the President Regulation (Perpres) on the Implementation of Principles of Recognizing the Beneficiaries of Corporations in the Framework of the Prevention and Eradication of Money Laundering and Criminal Acts of Terrorism, otherwise known as the draft of Perpres on Beneficial Ownership has been with the President since May 2017, but to this day the draft has not yet been signed. The public is wondering why the President is taking this much time. Recently the former Head of the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) one Yunus Husein publicly criticized the President for supposedly having a regulation phobia.
Le Minerale v. Aqua : Verdict
After six months of trial, on December 19, 2017 the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) read their verdict on the case of alleged practices of unfair business competition conducted by PT Tirta Investama (TI, producer of Aqua) and PT Balina Agung Perkasa (BAP, a distributor of Aqua) against their rival PT Tirta Fresindo Jaya (TFJ), a manufacturer of Bottled Drinking Water (AMDK) under the Le Minerale brand. As predicted before, the KPPU declared TI and BAP guilty and must therefore pay fines.
Law Journal: Jambi Graft Case, PT Berdikari’s Case, BANI’s Feud
There’s been news of a threat made to the witness in the Jambi graft case. The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) said that they were aware and would coordinate on a follow-up measure with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The Agency issued a public warning against interfering with an on-going investigation for it would constitute a crimeIn other case. Elsewhere investigation into the corruption chain involving PT Berdikari may end soon. Whereas in the feud between two arbitration bodies involving the Indonesian National Arbitration Board (BANI) will probably continue after the State Administrative High Court (PTTUN) decided to annul the verdict of the State Administrative Court (PTUN).
Corruption Journal: TPPI, and the Nganjuk Graft Case
Nearly two years ago the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri) announced the result of their investigation into PT Trans Pacific Petrochemical Indotama (TPPI) and BP Migas (now Satuan Kerja Khusus Pelaksana Kegiatan Usaha Hulu Minyak dan Gas Bumi — SKK Migas). The case was supposed to go to prosecution but that has not happened. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), meanwhile, has named the Regent of Nganjuk Taufiqurrahman, who was arrested in a Sting Operation a couple of months ago, a graft suspect. In connection to this investigation, the KPK asked for a travel ban to be imposed on five individuals.
The Latest on the Jakarta Bay Reclamation Project
Several weeks before he ended his term as the governor of Jakarta, Djarot Saiful Hidayat sent a letter to the Jakarta Regional Representatives Council (DPRD Jakarta) and proposed a discussion on the controversial draft of Regional Regulation (Raperda) on the North Jakarta Coastal Strategic Spatial Plan (RTRKSP) and the long-awaited Raperda on the Zoning Plan for Coastal Areas and Small Islands of the Province of Jakarta for 2015-2035 (RZWP3K). This policy, however, has been reversed by his successor Governor Anies Baswedan.
RAPP v. The Government : The Trial
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry canceled the Revised Business Plan on Utilization of Forest Timber Product in Industrial Plantation Forest (RKUPHHK-HTI) proposed by PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) (APRIL Group) back in October 2017, and RAPP decided to file a State Administrative lawsuit against the decision several weeks ago. The trial on the dispute began soon after, but RAPP’s legal counsel Hamdan Zoelva, who is the former Chief of the Constitutional Court said that the Company had no intention to fight the country.
Law Journal
Rhe trial of Akhmad Zaini, the legal counsel of PT Aquamarine Divindo Inspection (ADI) that was caught bribing the Registrar of the South Jakarta District Court (PN Jaksel) Tarmizi back in August 2017, will end soon. On December 14, 2017, the prosecutors of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) read their demands. Several interesting things were unraveled during the trial, including Tarmizi’s claim that he had discussed the bribes beforehand with the presiding judge of the case. In another case, PT Budidharma Dibyaraga, the Company that operates the wellness facility chain Gaya Spa, filed a lawsuit against PT Hotel Indonesia Natour Persero on December 11, 2017 and demanded the State-Owned Enterprise to pay compensation of over Rp200 billion.