Shocked Tom Lembong Becomes A Suspect, Anies: A Person Who Is Straight And Not Neko-neko

Anies Baswedan and Tom Lembong (DoK Capture of Youtube screen @aniesbaswedan)

JAKARTA - Anies Baswedan admitted that he was surprised by the determination of Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong as suspects in the sugar import case of the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) for the 2015 to 2016 period.

Anies admitted that he knew the former Co-Captain National Team for the Anies-Muhaimin (AmIN National Team) in the 2024 presidential election as a figure with high integrity. According to him, Tom always prioritizes the public interest and he also focuses on fighting for the narrowest Indonesian middle class.

"Tom is a straight person and not the type of person who likes neko-neko. Therefore, during careers-length in the business world and careers-abridged careers in the government he respects, both domestically and internationally. This news is very surprising," Anies wrote on the account X aniesbaswedan, Wednesday, October 30.

However, Anies respects the ongoing legal process. The former governor of DKI Jakarta will provide moral support and other possible support to Tom.

"Tom, jangan berhenti mencintai Indonesia dan rakyatnya, seperti yang telah dijalani dan dibuktikan selama ini. I still have my trust in Tom, dan doa serta dukungan kami tidak akan putus," urai Anies.

Teman2 semua, terkait penetapan Tom Lembong sebagai tersangka.

Saya bersahabat dengan Tom hampir 20 tahun dan mengenalnya sebagai pribadi berintegritas tinggi. Tom selalu prioritaskan kepentingan publik dan ia juga fokus memperjuangkan kelas menengah Indonesia yang terhimpit.…

— Anies Rasyid Baswedan (@aniesbaswedan) October 30, 2024

Teman2 semua, terkait penetapan Tom Lembong sebagai tersangka.

Saya bersahabat dengan Tom hampir 20 tahun dan mengenalnya sebagai pribadi berintegritas tinggi. Tom selalu prioritaskan kepentingan publik dan ia juga fokus memperjuangkan kelas menengah Indonesia yang terhimpit.…

— Anies Rasyid Baswedan (@aniesbaswedan) October 30, 2024

All of my friends are related to the determination of Tom Lembong as a suspect.

I have been friends with Tom for almost 20 years and know him as a person with high integrity. Tom always prioritizes the public interest and he also focuses on fighting for the middle class of Indonesia that is squeezed....

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) said the alleged sugar import case at the Ministry of Trade in 2015-2016 that ensnared Thomas Trikasih Lembong (TTL) or who is familiarly called Tom Lembong had been investigated since 2023.

"The investigation into this case has been going on for a long time, since October 2023," said Director of Investigation (Dirdik) of the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) at the AGO Abdul Qohar to reporters Tuesday, October 29.

Qohar said that his party did not immediately determine Tom Lembong as a suspect in the case. According to him, the determination of the suspect is determined based on the adequacy of the evidence and expert testimony.

"It took a long time because this case was not an ordinary matter. It was not a simple matter," he said.

Qohar also denied having politicized the case. He stressed there is sufficient evidence to ensnare Tom Lembong as a suspect.

"No exception, whoever did it, when sufficient evidence is found, investigators will definitely determine the person concerned as a suspect," he said.

Abdul Qohar said Tom Lembong played a role in granting permits to import raw crystal sugar to white crystal sugar as prices soared.

"In fact, it should be those who have the right to import sugar for domestic needs are SOEs appointed by the minister of trade. Even that, white crystal sugar is not raw crystal sugar," he said.

The import agreement that Tom Lembong has issued did not go through a coordination meeting with related agencies and without any recommendations from ministries to find out the real needs of sugar in the country.

Tom Lembong was detained for the next 20 days after being named a suspect in the case. "TTL is being held at the Salemba detention center at the South Jakarta District Attorney branch," he told reporters.