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) is still ongoing, but as today, the prosecutors have expedited the dockets of several suspects to the next phase. That said, the trial of the predicate crime will probably start soon. In the meantime, the trial on the case of alleged obstruction of justice has started and the case is being examined by the Pangkalpinang District Court.

The ‘clean-up’ efforts carried out within State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) can be materialized with the help of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). After successfully exposing mega-corruption cases involving several BUMN and/or its subsidiaries, the AGO also started to expose cases that allegedly occurred in the management of pension funds. Last year, the AGO announced allegations of corruption in the management of the Pension Fund of Port and Dredging Company (DP4, Dapen Pelindo) at PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) and announced six suspects in this case. Recently we learned that the suspects have been found guilty at the stage of appeal.

It has been over two years since the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced the development of the investigation into allegations of corruption at the root of the problem which caused the cooking oil shortage and price surcharge. By then, representatives of three groups of companies had been named suspects. Then, as expected, the companies were named corporate suspects. However, questions remain, especially regarding the Government’s responsibility. The companies tried to file a State Administrative lawsuit against the Minister of Trade soon after and received interesting decisions. In the last week of April 2024, the companies tried their luck and filed for different lawsuits to the Central Jakarta District Court, the trial is ongoing. Separately, trial on the alleged corruption of the corporate suspects also continues.

Of all the problems currently plaguing State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), companies based outside Jakarta are not free from problems, even though they are far from the media spotlight. Not long ago, PT Barata Indonesia (Persero), a State-owned foundry manufacturing company was sued for bankruptcy.

After years of investigation, earlier this year the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) finally announced the progress of the investigation into the case of alleged corruption at the Ministry of Manpower and named suspects including one Reyna Usman, a PKB politician. This week, Reyna and the other suspects finally stand trial as defendants.

The trial of the case of corruption involving officials of the Directorate General of Railways at the Ministry of Transportation is still ongoing and we know the case concerns railway projects in several different regions and therefore are examined by different district courts. Throughout the court proceedings, names of other parties allegedly involved in the scandal were mentioned, including high profile figures. Recently, the KPK detained the latest suspect in the case.

We’ve been shown in the court proceeding of how Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL), former minister of agriculture and politician from NasDem party, excessively used his position for the benefit of his own family and party. In the midst of court hearings, we read news about what might have been signals of similar practices committed by the current agriculture minister Andi Amran Sulaiman (AAS).

Achsanul Qosasi, member of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) (former lawmaker from Demokrat Party), was named suspect by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) towards the end of 2023 for his alleged involvement in the case of alleged corruption related to a project at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics. For some, this is a long overdue announcement, however, the process after that continues without much surprises. Achsanul finally stood trial in March 2024 and within only two months, the prosecutors had read their demands. In the middle of the trial, we learned that Achsanul supposedly received a whopping Rp40 billion from the scheme, but he had returned the money. This is why Achsanul asked to be acquitted in his defense plea. But we all know the law does not allow that.

The former Mayor of Bima, Muhammad Lutfi, was named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in October last year. The Golkar politician was discovered to have included his family in carrying out a corruption scheme by taking advantage of his position. Far from the media spotlight, Lutfi faced trial in January 2024 and was recently found guilty, however, the decision is a bit odd.

With the aim of being an alternative internet service provider in Indonesia, Starlink’s presence has received various responses in the public. Many support it, but there are also concerns that Starlink’s entry into the retail internet services market will have an impact on unhealthy business competition. Responding to this, recently the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) held a focus group discussion to address this situation.