Judge Will Present Tom Lembong Via Zoom At Pretrial Session

The South Jakarta District Court held a trial for the pretrial stage of the submission of evidence related to the corruption case of importing Tom Lembong sugar, Jakarta, Wednesday (20/11/2024). ANTARA/Luhfia Miranda Putri

The South Jakarta District Court Judge considered Tom Lembong to appear online at the trial of the pretrial lawsuit at the stage of submitting evidence related to the corruption case of sugar imports at the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) in 2015-2016.

"Okay, I'll conclude later, he will be presented in a zoom manner and we will hear what this suspect wants to convey," said single judge Tumpanuli Marbun in a pretrial hearing at the South Jakarta District Court as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, November 20.

The judge said that during the trial of the witness evidence, his party would listen to Tom, who is a suspect, to provide information.

"We will first listen to the zoom description of what the suspect wants to convey," he said.

He emphasized whether the urgency or not of Tom's presence would be judged by the judge through the evidence and statements of the suspect according to judicial facts.

In addition, the judge will also consider the evidence and allegations disputed by the defendant, namely the Attorney General's Office (AGO).

"So, the urgency let the urgency presented at this trial be the assessment of the pretrial judge to assess whether it is valid or not, that's the point," he said.

The judge explained Tom's presence as the goal of bridging so that there would be no unnecessary polemics.

Tumpanuli ensured that the judge's decision or conclusion was determined objectively.

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.

Previously, Tom Lembong's team of attorneys submitted to the judge to present the applicant in order to provide a direct statement at the pretrial lawsuit trial.

Tom is said to be a lawyer who can explain in court because he knows about the incident and can provide information related to the examination process.