The Attorney General's Office Investigate Allegations Of Misappropriation Of Sugar Importation At The Ministry Of Trade

Director of Investigation Jampidsus Kuntadi (left) and Kapuspenkum of the Attorney General's Office Ketut Sumedana gave a press statement at the Attorney General's Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/10/2023). ANTARA/Laily Rahmawaty

JAKARTA - Investigators from the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes at the Attorney General's Office (Jampidsus Kejagung) are investigating allegations of abuse of authority in sugar importation activities at the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) which occurred in the 2015 to 2023 period.

The Director of Investigation at the Jampidsus Attorney General's Office, Kuntadi, said that his party had found two sufficient preliminary pieces of evidence on suspicion of abuse of authority in the sugar importation activity at the Ministry of Trade.

"This action is, among other things, suspected in the context of fulfilling national sugar stocks and stability of national sugar prices," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 3.

According to Kuntadi, the Ministry of Trade is suspected of committing illegal acts by issuing approval for imports of raw crystal sugar (GKM) in question for processing into white crystal sugar (GKP) to parties suspected of being authorized.

In addition, he continued, the Ministry of Trade is also suspected of having granted import permits that exceed the maximum quota limit required by the government.

"We have investigated the case, and a series of examinations. The team believes that sufficient preliminary evidence has been found so that it is concluded that a criminal act has occurred in the case," he said.

Kuntadi added that this case has entered the investigation stage, and a search is underway at the Ministry of Trade office and the PT Indonesia Trading Company (PPI) office in Central Jakarta.

At the Ministry of Trade office, the Investigative Team conducted searches in the Ministerial Administration room, the Director of Imports' Room, and the workspace of the Chairperson of the Agricultural Product Import Team.

Meanwhile, at the PPI Office, the Investigative Team conducted a search of the Archives Room and the PT PPI Accounting and Finance Division.

Head of the Legal Information Center (Kapuspenkum) of the Attorney General's Office, Ketut Sumedana, said that from the searches at the two locations, investigators confiscated a number of electronic evidence related to criminal incidents and documents.

"The confiscation and search since 12.00 WIB is related to the alleged corruption case of abuse of authority in sugar importation activities at the Indonesian Ministry of Trade from 2015 to 2023," said Sumedana.