The Attorney General's Office Examines Former Bulog Official In The Tom Lembong Sugar Corruption Case

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) is examining four witnesses regarding the alleged corruption case of sugar impotation which has named the former Minister of Trade (Mendag), Thomas Trikasih Lembong alias Tom Lembong, as a suspect. One of them is a former Bulog official.

"Examining four witnesses, related to the alleged corruption case in sugar importation activities at the Ministry of Trade from 2015 to 2016," said Head of the Attorney General's Office, Harli Siregar, to reporters, Monday, December 2.

The former Bulog official in question is the Head of the Basic Food Procurement Division of the Bulog Procurement Directorate for the period 2016 to 2018 with the initials FKZ.

Then, for the other witnesses, namely, BAM as Director of Business Development of PT Perusahaan Trade Indonesia (PT PPI) Persero for the 2016-2019 period and YHF who is a Bulog Employee.

"RJT as Head of Customs and Excise Service Section I," said Harli.

However, it was not conveyed in detail what the witnesses studied. It is only stated that the examination was carried out on Monday, December 2.

"The witness examination was carried out to strengthen the evidence and complete the filing in the case," said Harli.

In the case of alleged corruption in sugar imports, Tom Lembong was named a suspect because he allowed the import of 105 thousand tons of sugar to private companies. The permit was issued while serving as Minister of Trade for the 2015 to 2016 period.

Tom Lembong's decision violates the Decree of the Minister of Trade Number 527 of 2004. Because, in that regulation, only state-owned companies are allowed to import sugar.

Tom Lembong was charged with Article 2 Paragraph 1 or Article 3 Juncto Article 18 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2021 Juncto Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Amendments to Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Corruption Crimes Juncto Article 55 Paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Procedure Code.