The Attorney General's Office Ensures That Tom Lembong Is Free Tonight After Receiving Abolition

JAKARTA - The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has confirmed that the defendant in the alleged corruption case of importing Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong will be released from detention tonight after receiving abolition.

"We make sure tonight the person concerned can get out of custody," said the Director of Prosecution at the Attorney General's Office, Sutikno, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, August 1.

This assurance was conveyed by Sutikno after the AGO received a copy of Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 18 of 2025 regarding the abolition for Tom Lembong, from the Minister of Law (Menkum) Supratman Andi Agtas.

"The main contents (of the presidential decree) are all legal processes and the legal consequences are specifically for Mr. Tom Lembong to be abolished," he said.

For the next step, the AGO immediately coordinated with the Central Jakarta District Attorney (Kejari) regarding Tom Lembong's release because the detention administration was carried out at the prosecutor's office.

For information, Tom Lembong is currently serving a period of detention at the Cipinang Detention Center, East Jakarta.

As for Friday evening, lawyer Tom Lembong Ari Yusuf Amir said that his client's decree had been signed by President Prabowo Subianto.

Thus, Tom Lembong was able to immediately get out of the Cipinang Rutan.

"Because this presidential decree is dated August 1, 2025, according to legal events, it must also be issued on this 1st, so today too," said Ari.

Abolition is a right owned by the head of state to abolish criminal charges and stop the legal process if it has been implemented. The right to abolition is given by the president taking into account the considerations of the House of Representatives (DPR).

In the case of corruption in sugar importation at the Ministry of Trade in 2015-2016, Tom Lembong as Minister of Trade at that period was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison after being found guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption, which cost the state finances Rp194.72 billion.

Tom Lembong's corruption crimes include issuing submission letters or approval of imports of raw crystal sugar for the 2015'2016 period to 10 companies without being based on inter-ministerial coordination meetings and without recommendations from the Ministry of Industry.

For his actions, Tom Lembong was also sentenced to a fine of Rp. 750 million, provided that if he was not paid, he would be replaced (subsidiary) with 6 months imprisonment.