PT Morula Indonesia (Morula IVF), a subsidiary of PT Bundamedik Tbk (Bundamedik Healthcare System – BMHS), took a corporate action in 2022 by acquiring a majority shares in PT Medika Sejahtera Bersama (PT MSB), a company that manages the Pusura Mother and Child Hospital (RSIA Pusura) in Tegalsari, Surabaya. Referring to the provisions of the existing law, Morula IVF is obliged to report or provide notification of this corporate action to the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) within a certain time limit. Unfortunately, the notification was made past the time limit. Morula IVF was then examined on suspicion of committing a violation. At the beginning of this week, interestingly, Morula IVF admitted to having committed a violation.

Earlier this year an interesting “clash” happened. The Minister of Finance visited the AGO and brought along reports on four debtors of the LPEI, alleging fraudulent acts which caused losses to the State. The interesting part is, days after that, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) stepped forward and announced that they had commenced investigation and inquisition into the similar allegation. At the time, the KPK looked like they wanted to steal the spotlight from the AGO, because we know it was the AGO who investigated similar allegations implicating LPEI several years ago. But the situation was quickly forgotten. Towards the end of last week, another interesting situation happened, as the AGO decided to hand over some of the investigation to the KPK, in what the institution call a synergy.

Last year, with the help of a series of witch hunts, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) managed to uncover several cases of alleged corruption including the ones concerning the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC). In one of the cases, KPK has named the former Head of the Customs and Excise Office in Yogyakarta, Eko Darmanto, as suspect. Just like the other graft suspects, Eko is trapped in his own habit of showing off his wealth. His trial started in May 2024 and was examined by the Corruption Court at the Surabaya District Court. Unfortunately, unlike his greedy acts of corruption, in addition to allegations of money laundering, the court proceedings went far from media coverage and towards the end of last week, the KPK prosecutors had read out their demands.

PT Berkat Elektrik Sejati Tangguh (PT BEST), a company specializing in the sales, distribution and after-sales of household appliances, recently reported Ningbo AUX Imp&Exp Co Ltd (AUX), one of China’s top 500 enterprises, to the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU). Apparently, AUX has terminated its contract with PT BEST, who was previously the sole distributor of air conditioner products under the AUX brand in Indonesia. PT BEST suspects that there was a violation of the law in the contract termination process.

The problems for PT Waskita Beton Precast Tbk (WSBP) may get worse. Towards the end of 2023, the subsidiary of PT Waskita Karya (Persero) Tbk (WSKT) is being sued by one of its creditors, PT Bank DKI. At the heart of the dispute is the decision to settle debts through Mandatory Convertible Bonds (OWK) which was not approved by Bank DKI. In early 2024, Bank DKI withdrew this lawsuit, only to file a new lawsuit in a different district court. The parties tried to mediate but to no avail. The trial continued far from the media coverage.

Recently, the Central Jakarta District Court registered a lawsuit filed against Bank Danamon and the Minister of Finance et al. This lawsuit seems ordinary, but the plaintiff’s name is too familiar to us. The court has not explained the contents of the lawsuit and petition, but the plaintiff has been in a long-standing dispute with the State-owned construction company, PT Pembangunan Perumahan (Persero) Tbk (PTPP) regarding ownership of 3.4 hectares of land located in Bekasi.

The investigation into the case of alleged corruption related to the tin trading system carried out in the Mining Business License (IUP) area owned by PT Timah Tbk (TINS) is still ongoing, but as of today, the trial of the most anticipated suspect has started. Harvey Moeis, the young businessman and once praised as the prime example of a distinguished gentleman, husband to celebrity Sandra Dewi, listened to the prosecutors indictment on Aug. 14, 2024. However, questions remain.

Eddy Sindoro, once a trusted person in Lippo Group, was found guilty for his involvement in the case of bribery implicating the conglomerate several years back. A few years after that, the then Secretary of the Supreme Court, Nurhadi, who supposedly had a side job in brokering cases, was found guilty for his involvement in a different case of corruption. Nurhadi was then named as a suspect in a case of money laundering, but we have not heard of any progress since 2021, until this week. Apparently, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continued the investigation and summoned Eddy as witness. The question now is, how far up will the KPK go this time?

We all know the commotion caused by the Constitutional Court last year. The Court, which was still led by Anwar Usman, who is married to the President’s sister, changed the norms of the general election regulation which eventually paved the way for the nomination of Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the President’s eldest son, as vice president. With pressure from many parties, the legal process was brought to the Ethic Council of the Constitutional Court (MKMK), who finally declared Anwar to have committed a serious ethical violation and thus must be removed from his position as chief of the Constitutional Court. Anwar, however, refused to accept the decision and decided to file a lawsuit with the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) amidst the scorn of many parties. Unfortunately, this week, the PTUN decided to partially grant Anwar’s lawsuit. What a mess.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, stepped down from his political throne as chairman of Golkar Party this week. Airlangga’s decision was obviously followed by various speculations. Allegations were put forward by many parties regarding Airlangga’s extreme decision, ranging from personal and woman problems to his alleged involvement in the cooking oil hullabaloo. However, the latter allegation was immediately denied by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and this reminds us that the trials related to the case are still ongoing.