Demands for Irman Gusman
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) did not waste their time in investigating the allegation of bribery in the distribution of sugar quota for West Sumatera. The investigation first brought down the former Chairman of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Irman Gusman. Soon afterwards the KPK completed the docket for the suspects in the case, all in only 2 months. The trial of suspect Irman Gusman began in November 2016. And recently, the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court heard the public prosecutors demands for defendant Irman Gusman.
Update on Central Steel’s PKPU
PT Central Steel Indonesia (CSI) entered their period of Suspension of Debts Payment (PKPU) in August 2016. Their creditors recently agreed to giving them an additional time of 30 days for working out their peace proposal. The Company will continue to negotiate with their creditors, but the process will not be easy because there are additional bills from the creditors, and the PKPU administrators team is trying to convince the potential investors to not change their mind over the changes of figures.
Graft in Indonesia’s Kuala Lumpur Embassy
On February 7, 2017 the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced a new investigation into the allegation of corruption involving the Immigration Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The KPK told the press that the case was uncovered with the help of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), who began investigating the allegation of illegal levies on passport arrangement especially for Indonesian migrant workers since mid-2016.
Update on the Trans-Seram Graft Case: New Suspects
After months of speculation, on February 6, 2017, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named new suspects in the case of bribery in the Trans-Seram toll road construction project—the case that is known for bringing down the former member of the House Commission V of the House of Representatives Damayanti Wisnu Putranti (PDI-P). The new suspects are two of Damayanti’s colleagues in the House Commission V, namely, Musa Zainuddin (PKB) and Yudi Widiana Adia (PKS). With this announcement, this case has a total of 10 suspects, 5 of whom are legislators in the House Commission V from 5 different political parties.
Jokowi, Papua & Freeport
President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo is scheduled to visit Papua this week to inaugurate the Cross-Border Post (PLBN) Indonesia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) in Skouw, Muara Tami district, and tradtional market ‘Pasar Mama Mama’. This will be the eight visit to the eastern most provinces since becoming President of Republic of Indonesia in October 2014.
The New Supreme Court Secretary
Six months have passed since the Supreme Court’s then Secretary Nurhadi Abdurrahman resigned from his position. Yesterday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo finally decided to appoint the Head of the West Jakarta District Court Achmad Setyo Pudjoharsoyo as the replacement. Many wonder why the President chose Pudjoharsoyo because the public had warned the President of Achmad’s controversial verdict in the past.
AgustaWestland 101 Chopper Politics
Military commander General Gatot Nurmantyo complained about stripping off of his powers over budget to lawmakers Monday (Feb 6). Nurmantyo pointed to the controversies surrounding the arrival of AgustaWestland 101 (AW-101) helicopter at Halim Perdanakusuma airport recently, even though President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo had cancelled the procurement. What’s going on?
Choel Mallarangeng and the Case of Hambalang (Part II)
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Andi Zoelkarnaen Mallarangeng (commonly referred to as Choel) a suspect in the Hambalang sports complex graft case in 2015, but Choel was not detained, and not much happened since. Until yesterday, when the KPK decided to detain Choel after an examination session. Choel will be held for the next 20 days for the purpose of investigation.
Pertamina’s Graft Woes
Last week, the Government announced the dismissal of the President Director and Vice President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Dwi Soetjipto and Ahmad Bambang. The dismissal, according to the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, bore no political reason; both had to be dismissed because they supposedly could not cooperate with each other. This is an interesting development given that Pertamina is under intense scrutiny. Ahmad Bambang is now being examined as a witness in a case of alleged corruption involving PT Pertamina Trans Kontinental. On the same day the dismissal was announced, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) also announced the naming of the former President Director of Dana Pensiun Pertamina M. Helmi Kamal Lubis as a graft suspect. To this day, the AGO is investigating 3 allegations of corruption in Pertamina and its subsidiary. The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division (Bareskrim Polri) is also investigating 1 case of alleged corruption involving Pertamina.
A New Investigation into the Mobile-8 Tax Restitution Case
In late November 2016, the South Jakarta District Court decided to partially grant the pre-trial lawsuits filed by the two suspects in the PT Mobile-8 Telecom Tbk (Mobile-8) tax restitution fraud case. The two suspects, i.e., Hary Djaja and Anthony Chandra Kartawiria have since been freed from criminal charges. The Court also stated that the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) do not have the authority to investigate cases such as the tax restitution case. The AGO, however, refused to back down and last week it issued a new warrant of investigation for the same case. The AGO will have to start over the process of investigation.