Advanced Sugar Import Corruption Trial, Judge Removes 4 Members Of Tom Lembong's Legal Team

2015 '2016 Minister of Trade Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong in a trial to read the interlocutory verdict by the panel of judges at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Thursday (13/3/2025). (ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria)

The panel of judges had asked several members of the legal team from the former Indonesian Minister of Trade Thomas Trikasih Lembong alias Tom Lembong to leave the courtroom.

This happened at the beginning of the trial of the alleged corruption case of sugar imports with the defendant Tom Lembong which was held again today.

It started when Chief Judge Dennie Arsan Fatria reprimanded four members of the legal team from Tom Lembong who entered the sterile room of the trial. Because they are not wearing a toga.

One member of Tom Lembong's legal team also provided an explanation. The four people were part of the Legal Counsel's staff.

"Please allow Your Majesty, they are our staff staff from the lawyer's office to assist in the preparation documents, they are also lawyers but because they have not..." said Tom Lembong's team of attorneys in the courtroom during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Thursday, March 20.

"Yes, we mean, for those present at the trial who have entered, apart from advocates and public prosecutors, please, unless they use a toga and are already registered in a power of attorney, please. We think there are enough to help the defendant's legal advisory team," the judge cut.

Lembong's legal team said the four staff entered the sterile room on the basis of their power to accompany Tom Lembong. However, the judge still asked him to leave on the grounds that he was not wearing a toga.

"Yes, but toga, for the order of the trial, please," said the judge.

It is known that the trial for Tom Lembong this time was with the agenda of examining witnesses. There were six witnesses who were examined with different backgrounds.

The witnesses included Edi Emdar as a retiree, Cecep Saepul Rahman as a civil servant at the Ministry of Industry, Susi Herawati as a civil servant of the Ministry of Trade, Robert as a private person, Muhammad Yani as a retired civil servant of the Ministry of Trade, Eko as a civil servant of the Ministry of Trade.

Meanwhile, in this case, 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.