There’s nothing ordinary about PT Gunung Bara Utama (PT GBU), a mining company with links to Heru Hidayat, a convict in the Asuransi Jiwasraya corruption scandal. Back in June 2023, we learned that in an ongoing legal case, the district court decided in favor of PT Sendawar Jaya. The company initially claims ownership of land owned by PT GBU, armed with various similar documents but in the name of PT Sendawar Jaya. At the appeal stage, however, the district court’s decision was overturned. Then another confusing thing happened. One week after the appeal decision was read, yesterday, the AGO announced that the documents used by PT Sendawar Jaya are fake. The institution therefore named one suspect, the member of the House Commission I of the House of Representatives, Ismail Thomas. At the time of the incident, Thomas was the regent of Kutai Barat. Thomas is a PDIP politician.

Satuan Tugas Penanganan Hak Tagih Negara Dana Bantuan Likuiditas Bank Indonesia (Satgas BLBI), announced three new summons this week. Similar to the other summons, names of companies being summoned are not well-known, however, the people behind the companies are the interesting part of each summon.

The public was shocked by news from the East Java regional police on Aug. 14, 2023. Investigators from the Specific Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimsus) at the regional police reportedly conducted searches on the Grha Wismilak building and immediately carried out confiscation. This action was taken after obtaining a court order and allegedly related to investigations into corruption cases and even money laundering. What is really happening?

Not even a month has passed since the uproar resulted from the disclosure of a scandal at the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), now the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that they are also investigating other cases of alleged corruption at the same institution. Reportedly, the KPK has even named three suspects, what a busy month for Basarnas.

Government efforts to increase tax revenues are ongoing. Three years after the Ministry of Finance expanded the tax base by collecting Value Added Tax (VAT/PPN) for digital products in trading through the electronic system (PMSE), the number of collectors continues to increase. There are now 158 companies that have the same set of responsibilities. The value of tax revenue also continues to increase.

Two years ago, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced the investigation into the allegations of corruption in the arrangement of excisable goods managed by the Concession Agency (BP) in the Bintan Free Trade and Free Port Zone (FTZ) (BP Bintan). It took the KPK four more months to arrest and announce the suspects, one of whom is the Regent of Bintan Apri Sujadi (Demokrat). The suspects were found guilty in May 2022, but the KPK did not stop the investigation. As a result, towards the end of last week the KPK announced a new case related to a similar scheme committed in BP Tanjungpinang and named the former Chief of the agency, Den Yealta, as suspect.  

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) managed to uncover a corruption scheme carried out by parties at the Directorate General of Railways at the Ministry of Transportation several months ago after a series of sting operation. The revelation was a shame because it hasn’t been that long since a railway line outside Java was inaugurated, who would have guessed that the parties involved in this project were not spared from corruption. The KPK colossally named 10 suspects and the inquisition was completed within only two months. Trial of the key defendants started in two different corruption courts in the last week of June 2023. This week, just less than two months later, the prosecutors had read their demands. We can’t help but wonder whether the trial has been conducted properly.

The problem related to PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTM) is getting even more complicated as the prosecutors’ office named the latest suspect in the case of alleged corruption related to its mining products. The Southeast Sulawesi High Prosecutors’ Office (Kejati) initially named three suspects and by last week there had been eight suspects in the case, three of whom are officials of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). The progress of the investigation should not come as a surprise anymore, but the latest announcement is still surprising because among the new suspects announced is the former Director General of Minerals and Coal of said Ministry, Ridwan Djamaluddin.

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. This time, the question was brought to the Constitutional Court in the form of a Judicial Review application. The court examination is ongoing.