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Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4.5 years in sugar graft case
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: Thomas Trikasih Lembong, former Indonesian Trade Minister, leaves after being named a suspect and arrested late on Tuesday by prosecutors from the attorney general's office, according to the office he is accused of granting a permit to a private company at a time when Indonesia had a surplus of sugar, in Jakarta, Indonesia October 29, 2024, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Rivan Awal Lingga/ via REUTERS/File Photo JAKARTA - An Indonesian court on Friday sentenced a former trade minister to 4.5 years in jail for improperly granting sugar import permits that authorities said had caused nearly 600 billion rupiah ($36.84 million) in state losses. Thomas Trikasih Lembong served as trade minister in 2015 and 2016 under President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. Once seen as Jokowi's close aide, Lembong turned into one of the government's staunchest critics after leaving office. Judges at the corruption court in the capital Jakarta said Lembong, as minister, was guilty of improperly granting import permits for sugar to private companies when the Southeast Asian country had a surplus of sugar. Indonesia's sugar output in 2015 was 2.49 million metric tons, while consumption was 2.12 million. In last year's presidential election, Lembong was the campaign manager for candidate Anies Baswedan. The election was won in a landslide by Prabowo Subianto, whom Jokowi backed. Lembong, who was arrested days after Prabowo's inauguration last year, had claimed in court that his prosecution was due to his involvement in the opposition camp, local media reported. Prosecutors had denied his arrest was politically motivated. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore Who is UNC3886, the group that attacked S'pore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore HSA looking to get anti-vape cyber surveillance tool with AI capabilities Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student penalised for academic misconduct; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore Former NUH male nurse faces charges after he allegedly molested man at hospital "The defendant was proven legally and convincingly to be guilty of having committed a corruption act," Judge Purwanto S. Abdullah said, to jeers from the crowd. Before handing the sentence, the judges had argued the import permits did not go through the proper procedures of consulting with other state bodies and that he had prioritised "capitalistic" interests over social justice. However, the judges said he did not enrich himself, leading to a shorter sentence than the seven years prosecutors had demanded. Prosecutors said Lembong had enriched the private companies. Holding up his handcuffed hands, Lembong told reporters after the sentencing that he would consider whether or not to appeal, saying judges had ignored his defence team. His lawyer Ari Yusuf Amir did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Friday. REUTERS
The Star
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Indonesian coal exports dip amid price dispute
Workers walk near a tugboat carrying coal barges at a port in Palembang, South Sumatra province, Indonesia, January 4, 2022. Antara Foto/Nova Wahyudi/ via REUTERS/File Photo JAKARTA: Indonesian coal exports dropped 6.43% to 160 million tonnes in the January-April period of 2025, according to data from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. Surya Herjuna, the ministry's coal business development director, denied that high reference prices were to blame, but traders have warned that misaligned pricing indices could further erode global demand as thermal coal prices hit four-year lows. Surya said the declining exports were caused partly by geopolitical tensions, which have dampened demand from key buyers, especially China and India, the two most populous countries. 'Due to the trade war, production activity in both countries has slowed,' he said during a discussion in Jakarta last Wednesday, as Bisnis reported. Chinese customs reported a 20% year-on-year (yoy) decline in April. Some buyers have cited Indonesia's reference coal price as a possible deterrent, arguing it was higher than global market rates. Surya denied that claim, noting that domestic coal sales had also dropped to 12 million tonnes in the first quarter from 16 million tonnes a year prior. Asia's seaborne thermal coal prices have dropped to their lowest levels in four years, driven by reduced imports from major buyers China, India and Japan, according to a recent Reuters report. Prices for key thermal coal grades from top exporters Indonesia and Australia have been steadily declining since October and have fallen more sharply in recent weeks amid weakening demand. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
