As we all know, this case initially was developed as a result of the investigation into the case that ensnared the former General Manager of PT Hutama Karya, Budi Rachmat Kurniawan, i.e., the corruption of Phase III Development of the Education and Training Center for Marine Studies (BP21P) in Sorong, Papua. In the first case, Budi was found guilty and sentenced to three years and six months in prison, with the obligation to pay Rp300 million in compensation. The verdict was much lighter than the demands of the KPK prosecutors: five years with the obligation to pay Rp300 million in fines subsidiary six months imprisonment and the obligation to pay Rp576 million in compensation.

The trial of the decade ended in 2020. Benny Tjokrosaputro and Heru Hidayat, who were defendants in the corruption related to PT Asuransi Jiwasraya, were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. It’s a historic outcome in Indonesia’s corruption eradication effort, but questions remain until today. Benny insisted that he was not the one to blame in the case. During the court proceedings he accused the Bakrie Group for playing a bigger role in causing State losses, Benny even tried to sue the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) repeatedly, but we never really understand what he really meant. Interestingly, last month the South Jakarta District Court registered a lawsuit filed by several familiar names against the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). The plaintiffs remind us of the Asuransi Jiwasraya case and recently we learned that the lawsuit is linked to convict Heru Hidayat.

It has been three years since the provision of a mining operation license to PT Tambang Mas Sangihe (PT TMS) on Sangihe Island in North Sulawesi has become a controversy. Several representatives of the affected residents filed a lawsuit to the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN Jakarta) against the decision given to the mining company soon after. Then, a different group filed a different lawsuit to the PTUN Manado. After years of legal battle, the Government decided to annul PT TMS license in September 2023. However, the company refused to surrender.

The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) under the new leadership conveyed efforts to increase coordination with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), especially to handle and prevent criminal acts of money laundering in merger and acquisition transactions which are closely related to beneficial owners. The importance of supervising the beneficial owners had been regulated in the President Regulation (Perpres) No. 13/2018 on the Implementation of Principles of Recognizing the Beneficiaries of Corporations in the Framework of the Prevention and Eradication of Money Laundering and Criminal Acts of Terrorism, otherwise known as the Perpres on Beneficial Ownership. However, its implementation is far from satisfactory.

A couple of years ago the public finally aware of the problem within the Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI/Eximbank) which lead to graft investigation. The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) commence the process and named dozens of suspects in three cases, including allegation of obstruction of justice. By 2022, all parties have been found guilty, unfortunately far from media coverage. A year later, however, we learned that there is possibility of a development of investigation. Now, nine months after that, the news was proven to be true. The Minister of Finance recently 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 the Minister said this is only the first report and the second report will be related to six debtors. Combined, the two reports concern around Rp5 trillion of State losses.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Social Affairs, which is supposed to guarantee the welfare of the people, is instead involved in a whirlpool of corruption. After previously the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) succeeded in ensnaring the Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari Batubara (PDIP) for actively involved in the crime, the KPK has uncovered another corruption scheme which is still related to aid for the people affected by the pandemic. The key person recently stand trial and court proceedings continue far from media coverage.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) finally announced the progress in the case of alleged corruption involving the Secretariat General of the House of Representatives and named none other than the Secretary General, Indra Iskandar as suspect. Separately, former Secretary of the Supreme Court, Hasbi Hasan, listened to the prosecutors demands in the latest hearing.

In 2023 we learned that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had been investigating allegations of corruption and misappropriation of authority committed by civil servants. Along with the revelation, the KPK apparently had named 10 suspects in a case of alleged corruption relating to the provision of remuneration (performance allowance, tunjangan kinerja – tukin) at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (Kementerian ESDM). The case is important, at least for us, because it’s not unusual. Similar stories have often been heard in various ministries and State institutions, knowing that the employee budget is one of the largest State expenditures. But even so, this is the first time the KPK has actually intervened. Unfortunately, the trial process took place far from media coverage. Last week, the defendants were found guilty.

The President Director of PT TASPEN (Persero), Antonius Nicholas Stephanus Kosasih, has become the talk of the town in recent years, especially since allegations of various corruption he committed as well as allegations of domestic violence emerged, all of which were published by his ex-wife’s legal counsel. In the midst of these allegations, we know that the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is investigating an alleged corruption case at the insurance firm, Taspen Life, a subsidiary of PT Taspen. Apart from that, not much happened, except that the said legal counsel has been named suspect on allegation of defamation. What was surprising, suddenly the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) entered the picture. Apparently, the ex-wife had submitted a report against her former husband. What’s going on?

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) initially started as an ordinary routine. We all know that the mining sector is prone to corruption. But as the investigation went on and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) finally found sufficient evidence, we learned that the scheme was supposedly created by the former President Director of PT Timah, Mochtar Riza Pahlevi Tabrani, his directors, and several other parties. That said, this is not an ordinary case. With Riza’s help, dozens of puppet companies were allowed to operate on PT Timah operational area including other areas with no permit or license. By this week the AGO had named 14 suspects in two different cases. The case finally received attention after the AGO reportedly searched the residence of the controversial Helena Lim.