The Attorney General's Office Calls Abolition Only For Tom Lembong, Other Defendants In The Sugar Corruption Case Continue

DOC VOI

JAKARTA - The Attorney General's Office (AGO) stated that President Prabowo Subianto's abolition only applies to Tom Lembong. Thus, the legal process for the alleged corruption case of sugar imports for other defendants continues.

"It should be underlined that the awarding of an abolition from the president to Tom Lembong's brother is personal," said Head of the Attorney General's Office, Anang Supriatna, to reporters, Wednesday, August 6.

The contents of Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 18 of 2025 also only mention the name Tom Lembong.

Therefore, the legal process against the other defendants in the corruption case continues according to the rules.

"It is clear that all legal processes and legal consequences for Thomas Trikasih Lembong's brother have been abolished," he said.

Previously, Anang also emphasized that the awarding of the abolition was not interpreted as a release. But the elimination of case handling.

"Where in the sound of the presidential decree it decides 'all legal processes and legal consequences against Thomas Trikasih Lembong are abolished'. Not releasing, yes, because if it releases the realm of the court, it means it is abolished," said Anang.

The Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi also conveyed the same thing. It is said that the legal process against the defendants, apart from Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong, in the case of corruption, sugar importation continues.

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 of the other defendants is still ongoing). It's really abolition to him (Tom Lembong), to people," said Prasetyo.

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.

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.