First Trial Of Sugar Import Corruption, Tom Lembong Charged With State Loss Of IDR 578 Billion

Minister of Trade for the 2015-206 period Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong hugged his wife, Ciska Wihardja in the Jakarta Corruption Court courtroom, Thursday (6/3/2025). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The former Minister of Trade, Thomas Trikasih Lembong alias Tom Lembong, was charged with causing state losses of Rp578 billion in the alleged corruption case of sugar importation at the Ministry of Trade for the 2015'2016 period.

The value of the state's losses was due to Tom Lembong's action in issuing a import permit for raw crystal sugar (GKM) to ten private companies.

"What caused state financial losses amounted to Rp515,408,740,970.36 which was part of the state financial loss amounting to Rp578,105,411,622.47," said the prosecutor reading the indictment at the trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Thursday, March 6.

The granting of the permit was without the discussion of the Coordination Meeting between Ministries. In fact, it was not accompanied by recommendations from the Ministry of Industry.

At least, there are 21 confessions or approvals for imports of raw crystal sugar (GKM) issued by Tom Lembong to private companies.

"Even though they know that the company has no right to process GKM into a GKP because the company is a refined sugar company," he said.

In addition, Tom Lembong also did not control the distribution of sugar in the context of stock formation and price stabilization that should have been carried out by SOEs.

Meanwhile, parties or companies that have permits to import sugar include Tony Wijaya through PT Angels Products amounting to Rp144,113,226,287.05 obtained from the PT. Angel's Products sugar import cooperation with INKOPKAR, INKOPPOL, and PT PPI.

Second, Then Surianto Eka Prasetyo through PT Makassar Tene amounting to IDR 31,190,887,951.27 obtained from the PT Makassar Tene sugar import cooperation with INKOPPOL and PT PPI.

Third, Hansen Setiawan through PT Sentra Usahatama Jaya amounted to IDR 36,870,441,420.95 which was obtained from the cooperation of importing PT Sentra UsATama Jaya sugar with INKOPPOL and PT PPI.

Fourth, Indra Suryaningrat through PT Medan Sugar Industry amounting to Rp 64,551,135,580.81 obtained from the cooperation of importing PT Medan Sugar Industry sugar with INKOPPOL and PT PPI.

Fifth, Eka Sapanca through PT Permata Dunia Sukses Utama amounting to IDR 26,160,671,773.93 obtained from the sugar import cooperation of PT Permata Dunia Sukses Utama with INKOPPOL and PT PPI.

Sixth, Wisnu Hendraningrat through PT Andalan Furnindo amounted to IDR 42,870,481,069.89 which was obtained from the cooperation of importing PT Andalan Furnindo sugar with INKOPPOL and PT PPI.

Seventh, Hendrogiarto A. Tiwow through PT Duta Sugar International amounting to IDR 41,226,293,608.16 obtained from the sugar import cooperation between PT Duta Sugar International and PT PPI.

Eighth, Hans Falita Hutama through PT Berkah Manis Makmur amounted to Rp74,583,958,290.80 which was obtained from the cooperation of importing PT Berkah ManisMakmur sugar with INKOPPOL, PT PPI, and SKKP TNI Polri/PUSKOPPOL.

The ninth Ali Sandjaja Boedidarmo through PT Kebun Tebu Mas amounted to Rp 47,868,288,631.27 which was obtained from the import cooperation between the Tebu Mas Gardens and PT PPI.

Tenth, Ramakrihsna Prasad Vemkatesha Murthy through PT Dharmapala Usaha Sukses amounting to Rp5,973,356,356.22 obtained from the PT Dharmapala Sukses sugar import cooperation with INKOPPOL.

In this case, Tom Lembong is suspected of violating Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.