Tom Lembong Sugar Import Corruption Case, AGO Examines Former Secretary General Of The Ministry Of Trade

Former Minister of Trade in 2015-2016 Tom Lembong at the AGO Building, Tuesday 29 October 2024 (Rizky AP/VOI)

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has examined three witnesses regarding the handling of the alleged corruption case of sugar importation with the suspect Tom Lembong. One of them is the former secretary general (Sekjen) of the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag).

"Examining 3 witnesses, related to the alleged corruption case in sugar importation activities at the Ministry of Trade," said Head of the Attorney General's Office, Harli Siregar, to reporters, Friday, November 15.

The former Secretary General of the Ministry of Trade in question is the initials GNR. He served for the 2015-2016 period.

Meanwhile, the other two witnesses, namely TSC as PT Honest Sentosa and IA who are Head Legal PT Kebun Tebu Mas.

However, nothing was clearly conveyed from the three witnesses. It is only emphasized that the examination aims to strengthen the evidence of cases of suspected sugar import corruption.

"The witness examination was carried out to strengthen the evidence and complete the filing in the case," said Harli.

In the case of alleged sugar import corruption, Tom Lembong, who while serving as Minister of Trade allowed sugar imports of 105 thousand tons to private companies.

Tom Lembong's decision has violated the Decree of the Minister of Trade Number 527 of 2004. In that regulation, only state-owned companies are allowed to import sugar.

In this case, Tom Lembong is suspected of being under Article 2 Paragraph 1 or Article 3 Juncto Article 18 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2021 Juncto Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Amendments to Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Corruption Crimes Juncto Article 55 Paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Procedure Code.