The Supreme Court has ordered agribusiness giant Asian Agri Group to pay Rp 2.52 trillion (US$258.5 million) in fines and sentenced its former tax manager, Suwir Laut, to two years in prison in one of the most controversial tax evasion cases in the country.

The ruling was the Supreme Court’s first verdict in a tax evasion case.

“The fine must be paid within one year,” Supreme Court spokesman Ridwan Mansyur said during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.

The fine is twice the amount of the tax obligation that Asian Agri Group had evaded, Rp 1.26 trillion.

Earlier on Thursday, Supreme Court judge Djoko Sarwoko confirmed the ruling, saying he read out the verdict at a court session on Dec. 18.

Djoko was the presiding judge on a panel consisting of fellow judges Sri Muharyuni and Komariah E. Sapardjaja, Antara news agency reported.

Djoko...