Jacob Oetama passes away
Jakob Oetama, founder and controlling owner of Kompas Gramedia Group, one of the largest media, property, and hospitality groups in the country, passed away in Jakarta Wednesday, September 9 at 88 years old. Started his career as high school teacher, Jacob eventually became one of the most influential figures in the media industry.
On Joker’s Case: The AGO’s New Suspect and More Questions
Thanks to the case of corruption involving Joko Soegiarto Tjandra (colloquially known as Joker), the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has been very busy. We know that the case is being investigated separately by the National Police (POLRI) and the AGO. The POLRI named Joko as a suspect in the case and several other people, including its generals. In the AGO, Joko was named a suspect for allegedly bribing Prosecutor Pinangki Sirna Malasari. The AGO recently announced a new suspect, one Andi Irfan Jaya, a cadre of NasDem. We have never heard of Andi Irfan before the case, but his background raises questions. The intermediary who supposedly paid the bribe for Joko had passed away earlier this year. He is reportedly Joko’s brother-in-law.
Management shakeup at BNI
The government as controlling shareholder has replaced the board of directors of state bank BNI (BBNI) Wednesday (Sep 2). Royke Tumilaar, who was CEO of state bank Mandiri (BMRI), has been appointed new CEO of BNI to replace Herry Sidharta. Herry was appointed CEO of BNI in February 2020.
Domination of Bank Mandiri Alumni
Two vice ministers of state-owned enterprises, Budi Gunadi Sadikin and Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, are both former CEO of state bank Mandiri (BMRI). They are seen influential in the appointment of more alumni from Bank Mandiri as leaders of state-owned enterprises or their subsidiaries in the past few months.
Bank Bukopin: What’s up? (10)
Extraordinary meeting of shareholders on Tuesday (Aug 25) approved the placement of 16.36 billion of new shares of Bank Bukopin (BBKP), previously controlled by Bosowa Group (owned by Aksa Mahmud, brother-in-law of former vice president Jusuf Kalla), to South Korean Kookmin Bank. The placement, if completed, will give Kookmin 67% ownership in Bukopin, which suffered liquidity issue for quite sometime.
On Joker’s Case: Questioning the Attorney General’s Office
Last week the public learned that the POLRI—who is investigating the case of alleged forgery and corruption involving Joko Soegiarto Tjandra (colloquially known as Joker)—had also examined the former Chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Antasari Azhar as a witness earlier this month. Antasari was the prosecutor who indicted Joko Tjandra. Antasari questioned the execution of the legally binding verdict by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), mainly related to the confiscation of the disputed Rp500 billion. Antasari said the process was not transparent. As we look for more explanation, on August 22, 2020, fire broke out in one of the AGO’s main buildings, burning down nearly everything.
Joker’s Collateral Damage: New Inquisitions
After conducting a case reconstruction, POLRI announced new suspects in two different, but related cases. The first inquisition is on the alleged forgery to help Joko Tjandra travel in and out of Indonesia. The second inquisition is on a case of corruption, as Joko Tjandra, with the help of several people, allegedly paid for extra assistance in the country. There are six suspects in the cases, apart from the suspect named in the case investigated by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO).
Joker’s Collateral Damage: Suspect Prosecutor
Prosecutor Pinangki Sirna Malasari, who allegedly communicated with then fugitive Joko Soegiarto Tjandra, was finally named a suspect. Pinangki is now detained. The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has moved faster than the National Police (POLRI). It found evidence that Pinangki had received US$500,000 in grafts. But this is only a temporary estimation. We are now waiting for POLRI to announce progress, taking into account that it had named two key suspects in the case.
Joker’s Collateral Damage: The AGO and Criminal Investigation
Joko Soegiarto Tjandra, colloquially known as Joker, appeared in public after 11 years in hiding and caused mayhem. It’s a slap in the face to three institutions: the National Police (POLRI), the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, particularly its Directorate General of Immigration. POLRI immediately investigated what happened. Three generals were dismissed from their position in a matter of weeks. The AGO is now making its move. It published guidelines for the process of examining AGO officials by other institutions. What is the purpose of the guidelines?
Joker’s Collateral Damage: OJK v. Mulia Group
A month before Joko Tjandra appeared in public, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) had filed a lawsuit against PT Sanggarcipta Kreasitama, a subsidiary of the Mulia Group. The lawsuit was filed after the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) noted the leasing of several floors in the Wisma Mulia 1 building. The OJK had paid Rp400 billion in rent, but the leased location is not utilized. PT Sanggarcipta Kreasitama decided to submit a counter lawsuit at a different district court recently.