Former KPK Leader Suggests AGO To Clarify Suspect Tom Lembong's Status

Former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong has been named by the AGO for corruption in sugar imports. (Rizky A-VOI)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the KPK for the 2011-2015 period, Bambang Widjojanto, said that the Attorney General's Office (AGO) must immediately clarify the case of determining the suspect Thomas Trikasih Lembong to avoid noise in the community.

"As soon as possible (the case) must be explained because it will be better," said Deputy Chairperson of the KPK for the period 2011 to 2015 Bambang Widjojanto in Padang, Friday, confiscated by Antara.

This was conveyed by Bambang Widjojanto in response to the determination of the suspect Minister of Trade for the 2015-2016 period regarding the licensing for sugar imports which was allegedly detrimental to the state, together with the Director of Business Development of PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (PPI) for the 2015-2016 period with the initials CS.

According to Bambang, the case has become a public concern so that law enforcers, in this case the AGO, must emphasize and clarify the reasons for determining the suspect against Tom Lembong.

"Public officials must be able to explain it, and not only legality but what is the basic requirement for this person (Tom Lembong) to be made a suspect," he said.

His party warned that if law enforcement could not explain the basic requirements for determining Tom Lembong as a suspect, the public could link the case to certain interests.

"This means that if this cannot be explained then the signal of criminalization becomes justified. Therefore, it is important to explain immediately," he said.

The Attorney General's Office has named Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong as suspects in the alleged corruption case of sugar importation activities for the 2015-2023 period at the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag).

Separately, the Director of Investigation of the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) at the AGO Abdul Qohar explained that Tom Lembong's involvement began on May 12, 2015 as the Minister of Trade who gave permission to import sugar.

This permit is considered not in accordance with the recommendations of the inter-ministerial coordination meeting to conclude that Indonesia has a sugar surplus so it does not require sugar imports.