Thomas Lembong Suspect For Import Of Sugar, Rieke Diah: Prayers Of People Ditindas, Harmful Sugar Farmers

JAKARTA - Member of Commission VI of the DPR from the PDIP faction, Rieke Diah Pitaloka, also responded to the appointment of the former Minister of Trade, Thomas Lembong as a suspect in the alleged corruption case of sugar imports in 2015-2016. According to Rieke, the determination was a prayer for sugarcane farmers who had been harmed.

Rieke brought up the incident that hurt him again. At that time, he strongly rejected the Trade Minister's plan to import sugar in the middle of the sugarcane harvest.

"I remember the incident, it hurt my heart in 2016. Rieke Diah Pitaloka refused to import raw sugar, the Commission VI meeting of the Indonesian House of Representatives with a former minister who was said to have fully handed over to God there would be imports of raw sugar or raw sugar of 380,000 tons. Because the road map is not clear, the data is not clear. Is it true that we need it for imports?," said Rieke, Tuesday, October 30.

"And from the analysis calculations at that time, the import of 380,000 tons of sugar will come to Indonesia to coincide with the sugarcane harvest in the country which will definitely harm our sugarcane farmers," he added.

Years have passed, Tom Lembong is now suspected of granting permission to import raw sugar or raw sugar to one of the companies amounting to 105,000 tons.

When he was a partner of the Ministry of Trade, Rieke even prayed that the Trade Minister's injustice would one day be open. Because he said, Commission V of the DPR was intimidated to approve sugar imports.

"At that time it didn't enter my logic, it was intimidated like that to agree to import him and bring his troops to Commission VI, but I also said yes, God will show you the right thing, give us the power to show the truth, show the wrong one, give us the power to fight injustice," he said.

Therefore, Rieke is grateful that the 'God' that Tom Lembong has mentioned shows his power. He said that the determination of the suspect was the result of the prayers of sugarcane farmers and oppressed people.

"Eh, pray for people who are oppressed, yes, as well as sugarcane farmers who are harmed, Masya Allah, Subhanallah. So if you leave it to God, which God do you mean bestie?" Rieke said.

Rieke also supports President Prabowo Subianto to fight for food sovereignty and food security. He also asked the Attorney General's Office to reveal his names other than Tom Lembong.

"Obviously, we have to brush the food mafia, including in this case imported sugar, which is not clear on the roadmap and the data is not clear. The data is forced. It's complicated, when the person is just disciplined, it's processed, okay, the Attorney General's Office," said Rieke.

The former Minister of Trade (Mendag), Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong, is said to have been questioned three times as a witness related to the 2015-2016 sugar import corruption case. Until finally, his status was upgraded to a suspect.

"Regarding the examination in question since 2023, he has been examined three times as a witness," said Head of the AGO, Harli Siregar, to reporters, Wednesday, October 30.

In the last examination as a witness on Tuesday, October 29, investigators conducted a case title. As a result, sufficient evidence was found to determine him as a suspect.

"After examining as a witness, investigators conducted exposure, titled the case and named the person concerned as a suspect," said Harli.

With the series of examination stages, Harli also emphasized that there was no political element behind the determination of Tom Lembong as a suspect.

"(The determination of the suspect) Murni is law enforcement," said Harli.