Tom Lembong Claims Transparent, Letter Until Permit Is Enacted To Jokowi

Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong attended the pretrial hearing at the South Jakarta District Court, Jakarta, Thursday (21/11/2024). BETWEEN / Luthfia Miranda Putri

JAKARTA - Former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong alias Tom Lembong claimed to be transparent during his implementation of the policy. This is because all letters and permits were copied to related parties, including the President at that time, Joko Widodo.

"My staff and I carried out all policies in a transparent manner, including sugar imports) all my letters and permits were signed, copied to various parties including the President, including the coordinating minister who brought them to the National Police Chief and Army Chief of Staff," said Tom Lembong when giving an online statement, Thursday, November 21.

In addition, Tom Lembong also emphasized that all decisions and policies, including sugar imports, were carried out solely for the benefit of the community.

All of this was done on the orders of the President as stated in discussions at various cabinet sessions.

The emergence of the order was also due to price problems and food availability being Jokowi's concern.

"The price of adequacy in food stocks is one of President Jokowi's main concerns, so I often consult with him formally and Informally, including food imports," said Tom Lembong.

In the case of alleged corruption in sugar imports, Tom Lembong is considered to have violated the law for allowing 105 thousand tons of sugar imports to private companies. The permit was issued while serving as Minister of Trade for the 2015 to 2016 period.

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

Tom Lembong was charged with 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.