The revitalization of the Jakarta Arts Center Taman Ismail Marzuki, or TIM as it is familiarly known, is one of Anies Baswedan’s pride projects that has attracted attention for the wrong reason: it was actually opposed by the artists. This project was continued even without the support of the artists and still leaves many problems even though it was inaugurated in August 2022 and cost more than Rp1.4 trillion. Later, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) announced that there was an alleged conspiracy in the process of working on this project.

In mid-August 2022, Fadel Muhammad, a senator from Gorontalo who is also a businessman, was removed from his position as deputy chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) from elements of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD). The reason for his...

We began 2021 with a corruption case drama involving tax officials. The allegation was scandalous because the officials had allegedly transacted and helped three large companies avoid their tax obligations. The key suspects in the case had been found guilty including Angin Prayitno Aji. Three tax consultants have been found guilty, the latest being convicted this week. We are still waiting for a decision on the tax consultant employed by Haji Isam’s company. On the other hand, Angin Prayitno Aji will soon face a new trial for alleged money laundering.

Seven years after the case was first announced, the trial of Hasanuddin Ibrahim, former director general of Horticulture in the Ministry of Agriculture, is finally over. Hasanuddin was declared guilty this week. Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) imposed a travel ban on 23 individuals related to the BAKTI case, most of whom were executives from several companies. 

Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has searched various compounds to get more evidence in the corruption case at BAKTI Kominfo’s telecommunication infrastructure project in the period of 2020-2022. AGO has also asked immigration office to ban overseas travel of 23 people, of which three have been named suspects, including Galumbang Menak, owner and leader of Moratelindo (MORA).

PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTM) has been in the spotlight for the past two years after allegations of corruption began to be investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). KPK struggled a bit to ensnare the key people in the case, this week the KPK announced the case and officially named a suspect. We need to note that the KPK had named a suspect back in 2021 but they lost in pre-trial. To add to the burden of ANTM, the company at the center of the alleged corruption has sued ANTM and the lawsuit was partially granted.

In mid last year we reported on a case investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) where the KPK had named three suspects. The case was alleged corruption related to the approval of the principal permit for the construction of the Alfamidi branch in Ambon City. Among the suspects is then Mayor of Ambon, Richard Louhenapessy. The court proceedings started just four months after the case was announced, far from media coverage. This week, the prosecutors read their demands.

Towards the end of 2021, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo inaugurated the commercial operation of PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry (PT GNI) in the Stardust Industrial Estate, Morowali Utara Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. The presence of the President emphasized the importance of this company. However, in just one year, a series of unfortunate incidents occurred within the company, including the workers’ riot that occurred last week. Several news outlets seem to deliberately clash local workers with foreign workers, although the news has been denied by the police and the Regent. But what actually happened?

Yoory Corneles Pinontoan, the former president director of the Regional Public Corporation Pembangunan Sarana Jaya (PD Sarana Jaya), was convicted in March 2022 for abusing his authority and committing corruption. The case is related to a land acquisition for the DP 0% housing program, which was the flagship program of Governor Anies Baswedan, and was investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Nearly a year after the verdict was given, towards the end of last week, the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim POLRI) announced that they were investigating a similar case and had named Yoory as a suspect. In this case, the location of the problematic land is still in East Jakarta with a loss value of more than Rp150 billion.

The trials of the key defendants involved in the PT Asuransi Sosial Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia (PT ASABRI) corruption scandal is over. In contrast to the revelation of the case that seemed so extraordinary, the trials went along quietly. The matters examined were no longer of interest to the public, except when the prosecutors decided they could indict one of the defendants, Heru Hidayat, with the death penalty. The similar demands were read ten months later, during the hearing held on Oct. 26, 2022. The prosecutors demanded the death penalty for Benny Tjokrosaputro. This week, Benny was sentenced with the same punishment as Heru, zero prison term.