The Attorney General's Office Urged To Complete The Cooking Oil Corruption Case Plus Money Laundering Crime

The Director General of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) Indasari Wisnu Wardhana (left) wearing a prisoner's shirt/DOC PUSPENKUM AGO

JAKARTA - Professor of Law at Padjadjaran University Romli Atmasasmita asked the Attorney General's Office (AGO) to complete the investigation into the alleged corruption case of cooking oil.

"I think the initial evidence is strong enough because of a permit violation. The Attorney General's Office can determine a corruption crime against money laundering," Romli said as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, April 26.

He explained that Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes could be applied in that case, because it fulfills the elements of a criminal act of corruption, such as violating the law in the form of permit violations, state administrators, and losses that have a wide impact.

In this case, according to Romli, Law Number 8 of 2010 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of the Crime of Money Laundering could also be included.

The AGO has named four suspects in the cooking oil corruption case. They are Indrasari Wisnu Wardhana as the Director General of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Trade.

Then, three people from the private sector, namely Master Parulian Tumanggor, President Commissioner of PT Wilmar Nabati Indonesia, Stanley MA, Senior Manager of Corporate Affairs for the Permata Hijau Group, and Pierre Togar Sianggung, General Manager of the General Affairs Section of PT Musim Mas.

Romli emphasized that after the determination of the status of suspects to the four people, the AGO could examine a number of other parties related to the export of cooking oil, including the Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi.

"Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law or equality before the law," he emphasized.

He assessed that the corruption case in the export of cooking oil involving the director general at the ministry was a network of crimes that had been committed by individuals in the government.

"I suggest the KPK to coordinate with the prosecutor's office. The KPK must have the courage to take over accompanying the prosecutor's office. The KPK should not remain silent," he also said.

He is optimistic that the AGO under ST Burhanuddin will not be affected by any intervention from any party during the handling of the 'Cooking Oil Mafia' case.

"I believe that the Attorney General is not influenced by politics. Even though administrative violations have not been found to be a state loss, it is obligatory for the prosecutor to open up as widely as possible, as fully as possible," said Romli.