Sentenced To 4.5 Years In Prison, Tom Lembong Is Considered A Judge To Ignore Community Interests

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Trade (Mendag) Thomas Trikasih Lembong alias Tom Lembong was found guilty and sentenced to 4.5 years in prison in a corruption case of sugar importation.

In the decision, the panel of judges had several burdensome considerations, one of which Tom Lembong was considered to ignore the interests of the community regarding price stability.

"The defendant when he was Minister of Trade ignored the public's interest as the final consumer of white crystal sugar to get white crystal sugar at a stable and affordable price. The price of white crystal sugar in 2016 remained high, January 2016 was Rp. 13,149 per kilogram and December 2019 was Rp. 14,213 per kilogram," said Judge Alfis Setiawan during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Thursday, July 18.

In addition, when Tom Lembong served as minister, he was considered to have used the capitalized economic system more than the economic democratic system and the Pancasila economic system based on the 1945 Law which prioritized general welfare and social justice.

Tom Lembong also did not carry out his duties and responsibilities based on the principle of legal certainty and placed the law under the provisions of laws and regulations as the basis for making every policy in controlling and stability of prices in the trade sector, especially sugar.

"The defendant, when he was the Minister of Trade, did not carry out his duties and responsibilities in an accountable and responsible, beneficial and fair manner in controlling and stability of cheap sugar prices, affordable by the public as a final consumer or need for materials, the basic needs are in the form of white crystal sugar," said Hakim.

Meanwhile, for mitigating considerations, Tom Lembong has never been convicted, does not enjoy the results of the corruption crime committed, and can be polite so as not to complicate the trial process.

"There has been a deposit of money to the attorney general during the investigation as a substitute for state financial losses," said judge Alfis.

Tom Lembong was found guilty in a corruption case of sugar importation for the 2015'2016 period. Thus, the panel of judges sentenced him to 4.5 years in prison.

In addition to imprisonment, the panel of judges also imposed a fine on Tom Lembong. The value reaches Rp. 750 million.

The criminal fine was given on the condition that if it was not paid, it would be replaced with imprisonment for six months.

"Sentenced the defendant Thomas Trikasih Lembong to imprisonment for 4 years and 6 months," said judge Dannie Arsan.

In the verdict, Tom Lembong's actions were deemed to have violated Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.