Tax Graft and Money Laundering
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) have been investigating a graft case involving two former tax officials since the beginning of 2017. Recently, the AGO announced that they had developed the investigation to money laundering investigation, and the docket for the first suspect had been submitted to the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on November 14, 2017. Separately, after having been postponed for almost a year, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continued the investigation into the case of money laundering implicating the brother of the disgraced Governor of Banten Ratu Atut Chosiyah one Tubagus Chaeri Wardana.
Monopoly and State-Owned Enterprises
After a year of examinations and trial, the Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition (KPPU) finally concluded that PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) had engaged in monopolistic practices in North Sumatera related to industrial gas supply and prices. The KPPU slapped PGN with a fine, but the Company objected to the conclusion and said that the assembly did not consider a lot of things in this case. Debates on the role State-Owned Enterprises follow.
The Helicopter Procurement Graft Case and Corruption in Riau
The pre-trial lawsuit filed by the President Director of PT Diratama Jaya Mandiri one Irfan Kurnia Saleh against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was not granted by the presiding judge at the South Jakarta District Court. Irfan must go through prosecution as such. Irfan’s legal counsel said they’re ready to fight against the KPK in the Corruption Court. On a separate matter, the Supreme Court recently accepted the cassation petition filed by the KPK in the case of corruption that ensnared the Regent of Rokan Hulu one Suparman. Suparman was acquitted by the Corruption Court at the Pekanbaru District Court back in February 2017 and was re-assigned to his position as Regent in May 2017.
Honda v. KPPU
More than a year have passed since the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) held their inaugural session to examine the allegation of cartel practices in the motorcycle business. The reported parties in the case are PT Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing (YIMM) and PT Astra Honda Motor (AHM). On February 2017, the KPPU had decided that the two Companies engaged in a cartel-like practice and deemed them guilty. AHM refused to keep quiet and filed for an objection to the North Jakarta District Court in March 2017. The trial is still on to this day.
The Land Bill
The Land Bill was put forth by the House of Representatives (DPR) in 2013 to complement the Basic Agrarian Law (UUPA). The process of deliberating the Land Bill, however, went on and on to this day. On November 9, 2017, The Minister for Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Sofyan Djalil told the Press that the Government and the would intensify the deliberation of this bill this year with passage in 2018 as the target.
Law Journal: Allianz Insurance Case and the BANI Feud
At the end of September 2017, PT Asuransi Allianz Life Indonesia made headlines after two of its former officials were named suspects of fraud and insurance crime. Recently, however, the police reports filed against the two suspects were withdrawn by the complainants. Elsewhere, the feud between two BANI (Indonesia National Arbitration Board)s may soon reach closure. On November 8, 2017, BANI Mampang’s legal counsel announced that the appeal petition filed by BANI Sovereign on the trademark dispute had been rejected and no cassation was filed, thus the verdict is legally binding and BANI Mampang is the official owner of the BANI trademark.
KPK vs Setya Novanto Continues
On Friday (Nov. 10) the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced that on October 31, they issued a warrant of inquisition on Setya Novanto, and that Novanto has been notified since November 3. So begins another chapter of Novanto being a suspect in the E-KTP graft case. Novanto’s lawyers have responded to the development. It seems clear that they’re going to put up a fight, though it should be noted that Novanto has already began the offensive against the KPK before the announcement today.
Judicial Review Journal: Witness Attendance and Management of Political Party
The Constitutional Court recently held hearings of two interesting Judicial Review petition. One petition was filed to question the provision of law which provides a waiver to a witness in a case that cannot appear directly in the hearing. One other petition was filed to question the authority to register changes to the management of political parties at the national level.
Judicial Review Journal: Presidential Threshold and Remission
Two months have passed since several parties filed a Judicial Review on the Law No. 7/2017 regarding General Election, but the Constitutional Court (MK) has not yet announced its decision, making everyone nervous. The main issue under review is the 20 percent presidential threshold, the provision which have been upheld by the MK for several times now. The other important decision made by the MK is to reject the Judicial Review petition filed by five convicts on the case of corruption regarding the right of inmates to obtain a reduction of prison time (remission).
Big Names in the E-KTP Graft Case
The investigation into the electronic identity card (E-KTP) procurement graft case is still ongoing, along with the trial of the suspects named so far. A lot of big names have been mentioned in connection to the case, but the KPK seems focused on several parties, especially the Speaker of the House of Representatives Setya Novanto (Golkar).