he arrest of former trade minister Thomas Lembong for offenses he allegedly committed nearly a decade ago has raised a number of questions, including suggestions the investigation could have deep political underpinnings.
On Tuesday, Thomas was named a suspect and arrested by the Attorney General Office (AGO) for his alleged role in a corruption case related to sugar imports managed by the Trade Ministry from 2015 to 2016, while he was minister under former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
The case centers on a permit Thomas issued in 2015 for private company PT Angel Product to import 105,000 tonnes of raw sugar, a commodity that would later be processed into white sugar for household consumption, despite a ministerial regulation allowing only state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to import raw sugar.
In 2016, Thomas allegedly also ordered state trading firm PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (PPI) to work with private sugar producers to import another 300,000 tonnes of raw sugar to help meet national demand and to stabilize the commodity’s domestic price.
The AGO said his policies had led to Rp 400 billion (US$25.43 million) in state losses, an estimate the investigators based on the profit pocketed by eight private companies, including Angel Product, that should have gone into PPI’s coffers.
Thomas has been charged under Articles 2 and 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law. Article 2 governs unlawful acts for personal enrichment that cause state losses or hurt the national economy, while Article 3 deals with abuses of power.
The AGO has also named another suspect in the case: former PPI business development director Charles Sitorus.
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
We appreciate your feedback.