On October 2, 2017, several national media outlets reported that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had conducted a Sting Operation in North Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi. The KPK said that their investigators were on a field duty. In the evening of October 3, 2017, the KPK announced that they had named the former Regent of North Konawe Aswad Sulaiman a suspect on two cases of alleged corruption related to mining licenses in the regency. The case reminds us of a similar case that ensnared the now disgraced Governor of Southeast Sulawesi Nur Alam.

PT Geo Cepu Indonesia (Geo Cepu), the partner of PT Pertamina EP, has been bankrupt since the last week of August 2017. The bankruptcy is a result of a lawsuit to cancel the peace agreement regarding debts disputes filed by one of the Company’s creditor PT Garda Satria Indonesia. Pertamina has also terminated the cooperation contract with the Company. But because the Company is only an operator in Cepu Block, the Company does not have enough assets to repay its debts. What will happen now?

As many as 50 tonnes of Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) spilled into the Bayur Bay waters in Padang, West Sumatera, on September 28, 2017. The spill was caused by a leak on the oil tank of PT Wira Inno Mas (Musim Mas Group). Some parties have already asked Wira Inno to take responsibility for the potential environmental damage. On October 1, 2017, the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) sounded their position in the case through a press release, and on October 2, 2017, the Company, through the Musim Mas Group official website, said that they had cleared the affected area together with the local apparatus and stated that the situation was well under control.

On September 29, 2017, the sole presiding judge who examined the pre-trial lawsuit filed by Setya Novanto ruled in favor of Setya Novanto and subsequently declared unlawful the process by which Novanto was named a graft suspect. The judge also ordered the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to stop their investigation into Novanto. This is not the KPK’s first defeat, which makes us wonder whether suspicion should be placed entirely on the pretrial process, or whether the KPK also played a role in this crushing defeat.

On January 2017, PT Dwi Aneka Jaya Kemasindo Tbk (DAJK) resolved their period of Suspension of Debts Payment (PKPU) peacefully after almost nine months of negotiations with the Company’s creditors. But eight months later, one of the Company’s separatist creditor, i.e., PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk (BMRI) filed a lawsuit to cancel the peace agreement. On September 29, 2017, the Company published its information disclosure on the IDX.

CIMB-Niaga bank has filed PKPU lawsuit against construction material company PT Hansindo Indonesia and its owner Mr Hendra Basoeki. If granted, the PKPU or Suspension of Debt Payment, gives the defendants 45 days to resolve the payment issues.

Matahari Department Stores (LPPF), a retail giant controlled by Lippo Group, has filed tort lawsuit against PT Pasaraya Tosersajaya, a mall developer owned by businessman and politician Abdul Latief. Matahari Dept Stores, a company with market value of around US$2 billion, has filed the lawsuit to the South Jakarta District Court on September 14, 2017.

Earlier this afternoon (Sept. 29), the Judge in charge of reviewing the pretrial petition filed by graft suspect Setya Novanto, Judge Cepi Iskandar, decided to partially accept the arguments laid out in the petition. With the arguments that the Judge accepted, Novanto was practically freed from the KPK’s graft prosecution.

On September 28, 2017, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced the name of the three suspects of the bribery case that ensnared the Regent of Kutai Kertanegara (Kukar) Rita Widyasari. As many had believed to be the case, the bribery is related to a licensing process, albeit not for a mining company.