Responding To Tom Lembong's Exception, Prosecutor Asks Judges To Reject And Continue Examination

Memoran keberatan dari terdakwa Thomas Trikasih Lembong alias Tom Lembong (DOK Rizky AP/VOI)

The Public Prosecutor (JPU) asked the panel of judges to reject the exception or objection note from the defendant Thomas Trikasih Lembong alias Tom Lembong and his attorney in the trial of the alleged corruption case of sugar importation at the Ministry of Trade for the 2015'2016 period. The reason is because it is considered to have entered the main case.

"We, the public prosecutor, reject all arguments of objection submitted because in terms of material substance, the objection note has been included in the main scope of the case," said the prosecutor during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Tuesday, March 11.

In addition, the prosecutor also stated that the indictment that had been read out at his trial was previously prepared carefully, clearly and completely. Thus, it can provide a complete picture of the criminal incident charged against Tom Lembong.

"The formal requirements in which the public prosecutor's indictment has contained the complete identity of the defendant, the indictment has been given a date and has been signed by the public prosecutor," he said.

"The material requirements for the indictment of the public prosecutor, both the primary indictment and the subsidiary indictment, have contained all elements of the articles charged," continued the prosecutor.

Moreover, the indictments that have been prepared also outline all the actions and roles of the defendant regarding the criminal acts charged. In fact, it is quite detailed to mention the time and place where the crime occurred.

Therefore, the prosecutor assessed that the panel of judges at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court could try the case to the evidentiary stage.

"Declare that the corruption court at the Central Jakarta District Court has the authority to try cases (and) continue to examine cases by examining the subject matter of the case," said the prosecutor.

Previously, Tom Lembong asked to be released from the indictment and also prisoners. This was conveyed by Tom Lembong's attorney when reading the exception.

"Freeing the defendant from detention immediately after the interlocutory decision was read, ordering the public prosecutor to release the defendant from custody immediately after the interlocutory verdict was read out," said Tom Lembong's attorney, Ari Yusuf Amir.

Meanwhile, Thomas Trikasih Lembong alias Tom Lembong, was charged with causing state losses of Rp578 billion in the alleged corruption case of sugar importation at the Ministry of Trade for the 2015'2016 period.

The value of the state's losses was due to Tom Lembong's action in issuing a import permit for raw crystal sugar (GKM) to ten private companies.