Verdict for PT Waimusi Agro Indah
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry started the year 2017 by, among others, filing civil lawsuits against the companies that allegedly caused the forest fires in 2015. Four lawsuits were filed in four different district courts since the last week of 2016. The trial of two lawsuits had ended. One recently concluded, with the verdict read earlier this week for PT Waimusi Agro Indah. The Palembang District Court decided to partially grant the lawsuit, and stated that the Company was guilty of causing the 2015 forest fires. Nevertheless, the amount of compensation imposed on the Company is far from the amount demanded by the Ministry.
CMNP & Lawsuit on Depok-Antasari Toll
Depok-Antasari is one of toll road projects built to ease traffic congestion in the greater Jakarta area. Unfortunately that commercial operation of the toll road has repeatedly been pushed back. SBY regime initially expected commercial operation in 2014. While construction was faster during Jokowi-Kalla administration, people might have to wait longer due to conflicts between shareholders.
Updates on Petroselat’s Bankruptcy
Petroselat Ltd, the subsidiary of PT Sugih Energy Tbk (SUGI), was declared bankrupt on July 5, 2017. Since then, Petroselat (the Company) has been trying to make amends with its creditors in order to avoid insolvency. In the meeting of creditors held on September 6, 2017, SUGI’s representatives revealed the name of the potential investor that may help the Company resolve its problems. At the same time, several creditors filed a police report against the Company’s director on allegation of fraud. Last week, the creditors conveyed their interest in taking over the Company and subsequently rejected the peace proposal filed by the Company.
The End of Batavia Air’s Insolvency
The team of curators on the insolvency of PT Metro Batavia have just announced the plan to distribute the result of the auction of assets in the amount of Rp18.52 billion. This is the fifth stage of auction result distribution and also the last distribution because the team of curators failed to find more valuable assets belonging to the Company. The creditors’ acceptance of the plan within the next 7 days would mean the end of the insolvency process.
Rice Regulations
The Ministry of Trade announced that they had determined the highest selling price (HET) for three types of rice— premium, medium and special rice—after the Permendag No. 47/M-DAG/PER/7/2017 was cancelled. The Ministry of Agriculture also promulgated the supporting regulation. The regulations came into effect on September 18, 2017. Rice producers and sellers now have the obligation to register their product in order to improve on the monitoring of the implementation.
More on BANI’s Feud: BANI Mampang’s Explanation
The Indonesian National Arbitration Board (referred to by the media as BANI Mampang), which was founded by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) and established under the BANI Statute in 1977 (BANI Mampang), recently won the trademark lawsuit filed by BANI Sovereign, the organization founded by Anita Kolopaking et. al. and recognized by the Ministry Law and Human Rights in June 2016. The lawsuit is only one of four ongoing lawsuits. On September 18, 2017, BANI Mampang held a press conference to explain their stance.
A Parade of Sting Operations
Last week, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted two Sting Operations (OTT) bring the total of OTT conducted on said week to three OTTs in three different regions. Two regional leaders and one Head of the Regional Representatives Council (DPRD) were arrested. The KPK appears to be on a roll.
The Cashless Society Movement & Objections
The Government of Indonesia announced that per October 31, 2017, toll-gates would only accept non-cash payments using electronic money (e-money). This policy is part of the Government’s ambition to create a cashless society and it is expected to speed up the payment process at toll gates, hence easing traffic congestion. But objections were quickly raised.
Sting Operation in Batubara
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a Sting Operation (OTT) on September 13, 2017. This time, they caught the Regent of Batubara (North Sumatera) Orang Kaya Arya Zulkarnaen, otherwise known as OK Arya. This is the KPK’s sixth OTT in the last two months.
Updates on BANI’s Feud
The Indonesian National Arbitration Board (BANI Mampang), which was founded by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) and established under the BANI Statute in 1977 (BANI Mampang), won the trademark lawsuit filed by BANI Sovereign, the organization founded by Anita Kolopaking et. al. and recognized by the Ministry Law and Human Rights in June 2016. The Panel of Judges of the Central Jakarta District Court decided to reject all demands in the lawsuit on September 12, 2017. This means that the trademark of BANI is still the property of BANI Mampang.