Palace: Abolition Only Tom Lembong, Other Defendants In Sugar Import Cases Keep Running

JAKARTA - Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that the legal process against the defendants other than Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong in the case of corruption in sugar importation is still ongoing.

Prasetyo emphasized that the granting of abolitions is personal and only applies to certain individuals, in this case Tom Lembong.

"Well, yes (the legal process for other defendants is still ongoing). It's really abolition to him (Tom Lembong), to people," said Prasetyo at the Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta, Tuesday, August 5.

He said the request for abolition from the other defendants would be studied further by the Ministry of Law if it had been officially submitted.

"Later we will submit it to the Ministry of Law to review if there is a request," said Prasetyo.

Prasetyo emphasized that there had been no discussion regarding the granting of abolitions for other defendants in the case.

"Nothing yet," he said.

As previously reported, the attorney for nine corporations caught in a corruption case of sugar importation asked the Attorney General's Office to stop the ongoing legal process after Tom Lembong received an abolition.

As for the corruption case of sugar importation at the Ministry of Trade in 2015-2016, Tom Lembong 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.

Even so, on August 1, 2025, Tom Lembong was officially released from the Cipinang Detention Center (Rutan), Jakarta, receiving an abolition from President Prabowo Subianto.

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