AGO Pockets 4 Evidence Of Tom Lembong As A Corruption Suspect

The representative team of the Attorney General's Office (AGO) attended the trial of a pretrial lawsuit in the alleged corruption case of sugar imports at the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) / DOK ANTARA

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has pocketed at least four pieces of evidence of Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong as suspects in the corruption case of sugar imports at the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) in 2015-2016.

"Four pieces of evidence were obtained based on Article 184 of the Criminal Procedure Code, namely what was obtained was evidence of witness statements, experts, letters and instructions and electronics," said the representative of the AGO, Teguh A. in the trial of the defendant's rebuttal or exception at the South Jakarta District Court, Antara, Tuesday, November 19.

Teguh emphasized that his party as the respondent had received preliminary evidence, namely the adequacy of at least two pieces of evidence. In fact, his party also had time to examine Tom as a witness before being named a suspect.

"The suspect has been examined as a witness before being named a suspect," he explained.

In the process of investigating the a quo case, investigators have obtained evidence of information from 122 witnesses including the petitioner. Then, the AGO also explained the related allegations that they did not provide the appointment of Tom Lembong's attorney independently.

Teguh emphasized that his party had fulfilled Tom Lembong's rights when he was a suspect in the alleged corruption case of sugar importation.

"Investigators have notified their rights as suspects, including informing the applicant's right to always be a suspect to appoint and be replaced by legal counsel," he said.

He explained that investigators had given an opportunity regarding the appointment of legal advisors to assist. However, Tom was not ready to present his own attorney at that time.

"In the BAP of the suspect on October 29, 2024, the answer is number 4 which states that for this examination I am willing to be accompanied by a legal advisor or lawyer appointed by the Attorney General's Office of the Republic of Indonesia investigators," he added.

Thus, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) asked the judge to reject the pretrial lawsuit filed by Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong because the determination of the suspect was fairly valid according to the rules.

Tom Lembong filed a pretrial lawsuit after being named a suspect by the Attorney General's Office in a case of alleged corruption in sugar imports at the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) in 2015-2016.