The policy changes to the Google Play Store that took effect from June 2022 have a bad impact as several new provisions trigger research initiatives from the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU). Towards the end of September 2022, KPPU announced that it has officially started an investigation into allegations that Google LLC and its subsidiaries have abused their dominant position, conditional sales, and committed discriminatory practices in the distribution of digital apps in Indonesia. Google initially requested for a change in behavior or what is known as a consent decree, the KPPU allowed the attempt. However, Google failed to fulfil its own promise, so the KPPU announced the investigation into the case towards the end of 2023, but the trial did not start until recently.

Earlier this year, the new leaders of the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) published their initiative to achieve their work targets which consisted of three main sectors, namely energy (oil and gas), digital markets, and food security. In terms of digital markets, as we all know, prior to the appointment of the new leaders, the KPPU has started an investigation into Google. Then, the new leaders announced that it had completed an investigation into Shopee. The trial on the allegations against Shopee started in May 2024 and interestingly Shopee admitted to their wrongdoings. Recently, the reported parties signed a consent decree, but this is not the end of the investigation. In another case, Google failed to meet their agreement in the consent decree, therefore, the trial on the allegations against the company continues.

At the beginning of this year, PT Rimba Raya Conservation (PT RRC), a company led by Rusmin Widjaja and Djonni Andhella, sued the Minister of Environment and Forestry. It was later discovered that the Ministry had revoked the business license previously granted to the company. The Ministry, interestingly, only announced and explained the decision they made two months after the lawsuit was filed. Not long ago we learned that the court finally sided with PT RRC and ordered the cancellation of the disputed Minister’s decision.

Trial on the case of alleged corruption related to a project at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics perhaps will end soon. Within the past week, one defendant has been found guilty and the prosecutors finally read their demands for the patron of PT Sansaine Exindo, Jemy Sutjiawan. However, the demands and punishments so far were disappointing.

Despite the important case profile, the court proceeding on the case of alleged corruption related to the construction of the Jakarta-Cikampek II Elevated Toll Road, better known as the MBZ toll road, continue far from media coverage. The first hearing of the trial started in March 2024 and within only less than four months, the prosecutors had read their demands.

Towards the end of 2022, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a Sting Operation in East Java and arrested several parties involved in a case of alleged bribery. The KPK later announced four suspects, including the deputy speaker of the East Java DPRD, Sahat Tua Simandjuntak (Golkar). East Java has had frequent encounters with the KPK, by then, as if they were reluctant to learn or maybe they really weren’t afraid of the KPK. So, we are not surprised to hear the news. Nearly a year later, Sahat had been found guilty. At present, the KPK announced a development in the case and mentioned they have named over 20 new suspects in the case, including former members of the DPRD.

After lengthy court proceedings and too much drama, the prosecutors of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) finally able to convince the Panel of Judges of the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court and managed to punish the disgrace Minister of...

Karen Agustiawan, former president director of PT Pertamina (Persero), has been found guilty in a case of corruption related to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) deal at Pertamina over a decade ago, but the decision is not satisfying enough that the KPK said they will...

Abdul Gani Kasuba, governor of North Maluku, was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in a series of sting operations carried out in several different locations towards the end of 2023. The KPK succeeded in arresting dozens of people but named seven people as suspects in the case of alleged corruption. Among the alleged bribers was a director of PT Trimegah Bangun Persada Tbk (NCKL). In May 2024, KPK announced that they began an investigation of alleged money laundering and at the same time expedited the dockets to the stage of prosecution. The prosecutors suspect Kasuba received over Rp90 billion of grafts during his tenure. This week, the KPK named new suspects in the case. 

It has been three years since the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) uncovered the case brokering scandal in the institution, which ensnared then Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Azis Syamsuddin (Golkar). Six months after the case was uncovered, Azis was found guilty, but has now been released on parole. Interestingly, the KPK has not stopped investigating this case. In January 2024, Azis answered the KPK’s summons and was questioned as a witness for apparently a new suspect in the case, the disgraced Regent of Kutai Kartanegara, Rita Widyasari (Golkar). We have not heard any progress since then, instead, the KPK proceeded to investigate Rita on allegations of money laundering.