Tom Lembong Sugar Import Corruption Continues To Be Investigated, 5 Witnesses Are Examined By The AGO

Kapuspenkum AGO, Harli Siregar At The AGO Building, Jakarta, Thursday 19 July 2024 (Rizky AP/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Attorney General's Office (AGO) continues to investigate the alleged corruption case of sugar importation with the suspect former Minister of Trade, Tom Lembong. Most recently, investigators examined five witnesses.

"Examining five witnesses related to the alleged corruption case in sugar importation activities at the Ministry of Trade from 2015 to 2016," said the Head of the AGO, Harli Siregar in his statement, Tuesday, November 26.

The five witnesses are HR as Head of the Evaluation and Reporting Section of the Secretariat of the Food Security Agency; WAR who is the Head of the Agriculture Division Team of the Ministry of Trade.

Then, LKH as the Functional of Food Security Analysts at the National Food Agency; EES who serves as Head of Standardization of the Directorate of Marine Products and Fisheries Industry of the Ministry of Industry for the period 2011 to 2016; and CSR as the Young Expert Planner of the Food, Marine Products and Fisheries Directorate of the Ministry of Industry.

However, the investigators did not clearly investigate the five witnesses. It is only stated that the examination which took place on Monday, November 25, aims to strengthen the evidence of alleged 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 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.