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AGO arrests JakTV editor in chief for obstruction of justice
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) accused Tian of receiving Rp 478 million (US$28,337) from two lawyers, Marcella Santoso and Junaedi Saibih, in exchange for orchestrating negative news reports aimed at undermining the AGO’s investigations into corruption at state-owned tin mining giant PT Timah and a sugar import graft case involving former trade minister Thomas Lembong.
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JakTV editor in chief Tian Bahtiar (center) is escorted by officers to a detention vehicle on Tuesday after undergoing questioning at the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) building in Jakarta. ANTARA FOTO/Indrianto Eko Suwarso/foc (Antara/Indrianto Eko Suwarso)
T
he Attorney General's Office (AGO) has arrested local news station JakTV's editor in chief Tian Bahtiar for an alleged obstruction of justice following the station’s "negative coverage" of the AGO’s handling of two high-profile corruption cases.
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) accused Tian of receiving Rp 478 million (US$28,337) from two lawyers, Marcella Santoso and Junaedi Saibih, in exchange for orchestrating negative news reports aimed at undermining the AGO’s investigations into corruption at state-owned tin mining giant PT Timah and a sugar import graft case involving former trade minister Thomas Lembong.
Marcella and Junaedi — who have also been arrested by the AGO — were members of the legal team representing Harvey Moeis, one of 14 individuals convicted in a US$20 billion corruption case involving PT Timah.
In December of last year, the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Harvey to 6.5 years in prison for his involvement, but the Jakarta High Court increased his sentence to 20 years in February following an appeal by the AGO.
Marcella and Junaedi have no link to Tom's sugar import graft case. However, the AGO has faced public scrutiny over the former minister's arrest, with many alleging that it was politically motivated.
Tom played a key role in the 2024 presidential campaign of opposition figurehead Anies Baswedan, who eventually lost the race.
Tom's case is still underway at the Jakarta Corruption Court.
