The Attorney General's Office Explains The Reasons For Confiscation Of The IPad And Tom Lembong Laptop In Detention

Photo archive - Defendant in the alleged corruption case of sugar import Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong/ANTARA PHOTO/Asprilla Dwi Adha/foc/am.

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) confiscated electronic goods belonging to the defendant in the Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong sugar import case in the middle of the trial, because the electronic goods were brought by the defendant into the detention room.

"Because the public prosecutor (JPU) sees that this electronic equipment can enter the detention room, which is temporarily prohibited," said Head of the Legal Information Center of the Attorney General's Office, Harli Siregar, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, May 23.

According to Harli, the defendant was not allowed to carry electronic goods while in detention. This is strictly prohibited, especially when the electronic goods are related to cases that are being tried.

"There can be electronics but it is static in nature, and it is outside the detention room, but this can enter," explained Harli.

Apart from violating the provisions at the detention center, Harli said the prosecutor suspected that the electronic goods were related to the sugar import case that ensnared Tom Lembong.

"It is suspected that this has something to do with the case, so it is carried out for a request for confiscation and if the court agrees, the prosecutor will read, explore, review related information in the electronic goods," explained Harli.

Previously, in a follow-up trial of the sugar importation case which was held at the Corruption Court (Tipikor), Central Jakarta, the Public Prosecutor applied for a confiscation permit for a silver iPad Pro Apple tablet and a silver Apple laptop belonging to Tom Lembong.

The prosecutor explained that the two items were found in Tom Lembong's room during a surprise inspection (sidak) at the Salemba Detention Center at the South Jakarta District Attorney's Office, Monday (19/5).

"We ask to be confiscated because we suspect the two objects have something to do with this crime," said the prosecutor.

Atas permintaan itu, Majelis Hakim Pengadilan Tipikor Jakarta mengaku akan mengambil sikap dengan mempertimbangkannya terlebih dahulu.

In the importing case, Tom Lembong was charged with harming state finances worth Rp578.1 billion, among others, for issuing an import recognition letter or approval of imports of raw crystal sugar for the 2015'2016 period to 10 companies without being based on a coordination meeting between ministries and without any recommendations from the Ministry of Industry.