Luhut on Novanto, Reza, and Freeport
General (ret) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, coordinating minister for politics, security, law & human rights affairs, has finally clarified his position regarding the controversial conversation between Setya Novanto, Mohammad Reza Chalid, and Maroef Sjamsoeddin, Friday afternoon. Luhut basically denied that he was part of a conspiracy to extend mining contract of PT Freeport Indonesia.
The Plan to Amend the Law on Regional Elections
The Government and the House Commission II of the House of Representatives has announced the plan to amend the Law No. 8/2015 on the Election of Governors, Regents and Mayors (Pilkada). The plan is to begin the discussion on amending said Law in February 2016 with the year 2017 as the targeted year of completion. Some major points to be discussed in this amendment are:
Chuck Suryosumpeno Fights Back
On November 18, 2015 the Attorney General HM Prasetyo issued a decree (SK) to punish the Chief of the Maluku High Court (Kajati Maluku) Chuck Suryosumpeno with the exemption from structural (management) posting. Chuck received said disciplinary action for a violation he committed while serving as the Head of the Special Task Force (Satgassus) for Completion of Confiscated Goods.
Jokowi vs Setya Novanto-Reza Chalid
Forget about ethics council of the House of Representatives (DPR). The Council will unlikely come up with strong verdict against House Speaker Setya Novanto. Forget about Novanto’s efforts to file lawsuit against energy and mineral resources minister Sudirman Said. It is now a case between President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo against Novanto.
Setya Novanto v. Sudirman Said
On December 9, 2015, the Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Setya Novanto, through his legal counsel, reported the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said to the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri), with the charge of defamation for the latter had accused the former of violating the DPR’s code of conduct by promising PT Freeport Indonesia a contract extension in exchange for shares.
The End for Jaddi Internasional?
PT Jaddi Internasional’s efforts to demand compensation from PT Hite Jinro failed after the panel of judges of the Commercial Court in the Central Jakarta District Court granted Hite Jinro’s exception. Accordingly, the panel of judges will not proceed to examine the subject matter and will exclude evidence provided by Jaddi Internasional. The trial of the case was declared closed.
Hunting Down Reza & The Bleeding Business
Mohammad Reza (Riza) Chalid, a famous oil trader, failed to show up for examinations by Attorney General’s Office (AGO) this week related to an alleged conspiracy with Setya Novanto (House Speaker, politician from Golkar Party) related to extension of mining contract of Freeport Indonesia. Reza has reportedly fled the country on December 3rd, the day Freeport CEO testified before the Ethics Council of the House of Representatives (DPR).
Legislative Journal : Perpres No. 131/2015
To implement the provisions of Art. 6 paragraph (3) of the Government Regulation (PP) No. 78/2014 on the Acceleration of the Development of Disadvantaged Regions, on November 4, 2015 President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo signed the President Regulation (Perpres) No. 131/2015 on the Determination of Disadvantaged Regions for the period of 2015-2019.
Update on Patrice Rio Capella’s Case
The Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) finally read the charges against the former Secretary General of the National Democratic Party (Nasdem) Patrice Rio Capella. If proven guilty, Patrice could be sentenced to 2 years in prison and fined with Rp50 million.
CR Aroma Ltd to Acquire Sariwangi
The process of acquisition of the legendary tea company PT Sariwangi Agricultural Estate Agency (Sariwangi) by the Hong Kong-based CR Aroma Ltd is reportedly in the stage of finalization of licensing in the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). Provided that there are no obstacle, CR Aroma could soon own Sariwangi’s majority shares.