Entering the campaign period ahead of the 2024 General Election, the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates have begun to express their political promises to the public. Of the three coalitions that currently exist, the Koalisi Perubahan untuk Persatuan (KPP) is the only one that has declared its presidential and vice presidential candidates, Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar (PKB). Of all the prospective candidates, the promise made by Muhaimin or who is familiarly called Gus Imin (formerly Cak Imin) is the one that caught our attention. Muhaimin promised several things which were part of the planned revision of the Law on Villages and more or less confirmed that the revision of the Law had political aims.

Nearing the end of its term, the Satuan Tugas Penanganan Hak Tagih Negara Dana Bantuan Likuiditas Bank Indonesia (Satgas BLBI) accelerated its action. This week, the Satgas published two summons for the management of two companies who have outstanding debts to the...

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reportedly searched the official residence of the Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo, on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 evening. The search was confirmed directly by the Head of the News Section of the KPK, Ali Fikri. The KPK has not yet explained the cases which lead to the operation, but we know that Syahrul was already examined in June 2023. Syahrul immediately claimed that corruption is not allowed in the ministry he leads, even so, we know that this ministry is prone to corruption, so this news is not surprising. Note that Syahrul’s two younger siblings are graft convicts and Syahrul is a NasDem politician.

The Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court held the first hearing on Stefanus Roy Rening, former legal counsel of the disgraced Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe. We know that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) indicted Roy for obstruction of justice as he was supposedly the one who persuaded Lukas and the people of Papua to fight against the KPK decisions. In the middle of the inquisition stage, we know Roy, through his colleague, tried to challenge the law to the Constitutional Court and reasoned that an advocate was protected by immunity, but the petition was denied.

Two months before its term ended, the Satuan Tugas Penanganan Hak Tagih Negara Dana Bantuan Likuiditas Bank Indonesia (Satgas BLBI) accelerated its action. In the past week, the Satgas carried out various confiscations and physical control on assets related to the BLBI. And apart from that, obligors also continue to be summoned.

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.

Corruption investigation in PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk began five years ago. The process was so slow that it raised question marks over the performance of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The trial of the suspects, including Garuda Indonesia’s former President Director, Emirsyah Satar, produced a very disappointing verdict. Later, the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), Erick Thohir, approached the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) with a corruption report. This is confusing because the allegations reported are already in the KPK’s indictment tried by the corruption court. We wonder if there is any other evidence that the KPK could not find before, that this case must be re-examined by the AGO. Recently, Emir finally stands trial as graft suspect for the second time.

Several months ago, the investigation into allegations of corruption at the root of the problem which caused the cooking oil shortage and price surcharge developed after the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced that it had named three groups of companies as suspects. However, until now there are still many questions remaining, especially regarding the Government’s responsibility. A month later, the companies filed a State Administrative lawsuit against the Minister of Trade only to withdraw it just a week later. Towards the end of last week, the companies filed new lawsuits.

Businessman Surya Darmadi, owner of Duta Palma Group, returned to Indonesia and turned himself in to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) mid last year. The AGO alleged Surya of committing corruption which caused State losses amounted to over Rp70 trillion and moved very quickly to complete the docket. Near the end of the inquisition stage, the AGO announced that the estimated State losses have reached over Rp100 trillion. That is unbelievable. Surya finally stands trial as a defendant in September 2022. Towards the end of February 2023, Surya was found guilty and sentenced to a historic punishment. The High Court upheld the decision on stage of appeal, however, a different approach was taken by the Supreme Court. On the stage of cassation, the Assembly decided to add Surya’s prison term but diminished his obligation to repay for the loss to the State’s economy. A disappointing decision.

PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTM) is still on the roll, in a bad way. We know the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) are still carrying out investigations and inquisitions into alleged corruption cases involving the company and its officials, the cases supposedly happen in several different regions and received resistance from several parties. Recently, the company also lost their legal battle against a businessman. How perfect. Meanwhile, in an ongoing court examination, the KPK prosecutors just read their demands for defendant Dody Martimbang, former official of ANTM.