Last week, the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) asked the General Elections Commission (KPU) to immediately announce the names of candidates for legislative members at all levels who are former graft convicts. ICW claimed that KPU seemed to cover this up because it never made an announcement as promised. KPU made the much-needed announcement several days later. Although we agree that this announcement is important, the KPU is not entirely wrong. We have seen how the KPU is struggling with bureaucracy and the rule of law to be able to make similar announcements for over five years.

Earlier this year, the power of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) was strengthened by the authority to investigate along with the enactment of Law No. 4/2023 concerning Development and Strengthening of the Financial Sector (UU PPSK). However, we all know that the institution has never been without problems and with so many responsibilities, its performance is still being questioned by many parties. The question was brought to the Constitutional Court in the form of a Judicial Review application several months ago, but while the court examination is ongoing, the OJK recently issued the technical regulation on the disputed new authority.

In the midst of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption related to the railway project at the Ministry of Transportation, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) apparently also conducted an investigation into allegations of unfair business competition that occurred in the Electric Signaling System development project for double-track railways. The owner of the project is the Railway Engineering Center in the West Java Region which is also part of the Ministry of Transportation. This week, two companies were found guilty.

The Central Jakarta District Court made a controversial decision earlier this year. The Panel of Judges granted the civil lawsuit registered by the Partai Rakyat Adil Makmur (Just Prosperous People’s Party – Partai Prima) and ordered the General Elections Commission (KPU) not to carry out the remaining stages of the upcoming 2024 general election and to repeat the preparation stages from the beginning. This was an ultra vires decision and quickly raised objections because it would clearly result in a delay in the General Election preparation process and thus be unconstitutional.

When the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) carried out a sting operation in West Java several months ago, and caught Yana Mulyana, the mayor of Bandung (a politician from Prabowo’s Gerindra Party), no one was surprised. The entire nation knows that the province is the province with the highest number of corruption cases, although trying to maintain the image as a religious region. The KPK even warned the regional government officials to be mindful just two years ago, but the warning seemed pointless. At first, the case that ensnared Yana looked just like the other corruption case, but given the background of the situation, the crimes should not be forgiven.

It has been a while since the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced their investigation into the case of alleged corruption in PT Amarta Karya (Persero), a State-owned construction company. Back in May 2023, the KPK finally named two suspects. Meanwhile, Amarta’s vendors and business partners have been trying to force the company to restructure its debts through the PKPU process.

Earlier this month we learned about the dispute between Fuad Hasan Masyhur, father-in-law of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Ario Bimo Nandito Ariotedjo, and a businessman from South Sulawesi, Annar Salahuddin Sampetoding. Annar claimed that Fuad had debt and interest worth more than Rp100 billion, which came from a sale and purchase transaction between the two. Fuad Hasan then revealed that there was a family feud between the agreements. This week, Annar denied the statement and explained his side of the story. From the rebuttal, we then learned that there is an ongoing lawsuit in Makassar because of the said land.

Over two years ago, in light of the corruption scandal in PT Asuransi Jiwasraya, the public learned about a different problem in PT Asuransi Jiwa Adisarana Wanaartha, also known as WanaArtha Life. The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) decided to seize the company’s assets and as a result, the company was unable to fulfill its obligations to its clients. The case would actually be the beginning of revelation of other crimes committed by WanaArtha officials. In addition to a criminal investigation initiated by the police, the company operating license has finally been annulled by the Financial Service Authority (OJK) in December 2023. Soon after, a liquidation team was formed, however, without much communication with the policyholders causing another confusion. The company then faced a lawsuit on Suspension of Debts Payment (PKPU) and another dispute business. This week, a new lawsuit was registered by the policyholders/victims. 

It has been five months after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced their investigation in Central Kalimantan and named the then Regent of Kapuas, Ben Brahim S Bahat (politician from Golkar) and his wife, Ary Egahni Ben Bahat (NasDem), as suspects. This week, the trial of the couple finally starts.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) uncovered the case of corruption in the regency of Hulu Sungai Tengah, South Kalimantan, in the first month of 2018 during a Sting Operation which ensnared several people including the Regent, Abdul Latif. By the end of the same year, the suspects were convicted. But the KPK developed the investigation and named Abdul Latif a suspect in the case of money laundering. Trial on the second case continues far from media coverage, this week, Abdul Latif once again listened to the prosecutors’ demands.