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The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Indonesia court convicts aide of former president Megawati in blow to opposition
JAKARTA: An Indonesian court convicted a senior aide to former President Megawati Soekarnoputri in a corruption case, dealing a blow to the leadership of the nation's main opposition party. The Central Jakarta District Court on Friday (July 25) found Hasto Kristiyanto (pic), secretary general of Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), guilty of bribing a former election commission official in 2019 to facilitate the replacement of a member of parliament. Hasto was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and fined 250 million rupiah (US$15,319). The court acquitted him of a separate charge of obstructing a corruption investigation into a fugitive linked to the party. Both parties have seven days to appeal the verdict. Prosecutors had sought a seven-year sentence. The case has revived longstanding concerns about judicial independence in the South-East Asian democracy, particularly as other opposition-linked figures come under legal scrutiny. Last week, a vocal government critic and former trade minister was convicted in a graft case related to sugar imports. Hasto has consistently denied wrongdoing. He said Friday that his verdict was similar to what the former minister had experienced, "where the law becomes a tool of power.' Prosecutors previously have denied any ulterior motive in the case. The ruling represents a setback for PDI-P, the largest party in parliament and the sole major party outside the ruling coalition of President Prabowo Subianto. The imprisonment of a senior official could diminish the party's parliamentary influence, and prompt internal debates over whether to continue its relatively non-adversarial stance or emerge as a stronger opposition force. Political analysts have long perceived the charges against Hasto as politically driven, in part because they stemmed from events dating back years and because of the timing of a falling-out with former President Joko Widodo. The case originated late last year after PDI-P formally ended its alliance with Widodo for endorsing Prabowo rather than the party's own candidate in Indonesia's presidential election. In court, Hasto had claimed he was threatened with arrest if his party went ahead with expelling Widodo. The former president has denied any involvement in the alleged threat, telling reporters in March that there would be no point in threatening someone not to expel him. "What would I gain? What would I lose?' he said according to local media outlet Detik News. The verdict comes a week after Thomas Trikasih Lembong, the former trade minister and a vocal critic of both Widodo and Prabowo in recent years, was found guilty in a case related to sugar imports a decade ago. Both Lembong and prosecutors this week filed appeals in the case. - Bloomberg
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Indonesia court convicts aide of former president Megawati in blow to opposition
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Hasto Krsitiyanto was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and fined 250 million rupiah (S$19,605). JAKARTA – An Indonesian court convicted a senior aide to former President Megawati Soekarnoputri in a corruption case, dealing a blow to the leadership of the nation's main opposition party. The Central Jakarta District Court on July 25 found Hasto Kristiyanto, secretary-general of Ms Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), guilty of bribing a former election commission official in 2019 to facilitate the replacement of a Member of Parliament. Hasto was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and fined 250 million rupiah (S$19,605). The court acquitted him of a separate charge of obstructing a corruption investigation into a fugitive linked to the party. Both parties have seven days to appeal the verdict. Prosecutors had sought a seven-year sentence. The case has revived longstanding concerns about judicial independence in the South-east Asian democracy, particularly as other opposition-linked figures come under legal scrutiny. Last week, a vocal government critic and former trade minister was convicted in a graft case related to sugar imports. Hasto has consistently denied wrongdoing. He said on July 25 that his verdict was similar to what the former minister had experienced, 'where the law becomes a tool of power.' Prosecutors previously have denied any ulterior motive in the case. The ruling represents a setback for PDI-P, the largest party in Parliament and the sole major party outside the ruling coalition of President Prabowo Subianto. The imprisonment of a senior official could diminish the party's parliamentary influence, and prompt internal debates over whether to continue its relatively non-adversarial stance or emerge as a stronger opposition force. Political analysts have long perceived the charges against Hasto as politically driven, in part because they stemmed from events dating back years and because of the timing of a falling-out with former President Joko Widodo. The case originated in late 2024 after PDI-P formally ended its alliance with Mr Widodo for endorsing Mr Prabowo rather than the party's own candidate in Indonesia's presidential election. In court, Hasto had claimed he was threatened with arrest if his party went ahead with expelling Mr Widodo. The former president has denied any involvement in the alleged threat, telling reporters in March that there would be no point in threatening someone not to expel him. 'What would I gain? What would I lose?' he said, according to local media outlet Detik News. The verdict comes a week after Thomas Trikasih Lembong, the former trade minister and a vocal critic of both Mr Widodo and Mr Prabowo in recent years, was found guilty in a case related to sugar imports a decade ago. Both Lembong and prosecutors this week filed appeals in the case. BLOOMBERG
The Age
19-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Jail for former Indonesian trade minister over sugar imports a bitter blow for supporters
One of the architects of the Indonesia-Australia free trade deal and improved bilateral relations has been jailed in what supporters believe was a politically motivated prosecution designed to punish critics of the Indonesian government. Thomas Lembong was jailed for 4½ years for illegally authorising certain sugar imports at the expense of the state when he was serving as the nation's trade minister in 2015-16. Prosecutors requested a prison term of seven years, but a panel of judges gave Lembong a sentencing discount because they accepted he had not enriched himself in any of the supposedly corrupt deals. The Harvard-educated investment banker is respected in Australian political circles for his work in the cabinet of then-president Joko Widodo's cabinet and later as the chief of the country's investment board. Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull credited Lembong with facilitating what became a strong friendship between the Australian leader and Widodo. Loading But Lembong became a critic of Widodo in 2019. Significantly, he also served as an adviser to Anies Baswedan, who ran for president last year and was a serious challenger to Widodo's chosen successor, Prabowo Subianto. Anies could again run for president in 2029. Lembong was arrested in October, days after Prabowo was sworn in as Indonesia's leader and a decade after the supposed crimes. The timing and allegedly 'cherry-picked' charges against a high-profile opponent to the Widodo-Prabowo alliance set off red flags among democracy watchers. High-level corruption is common in Indonesia, and decisions about whom to prosecute and whom to leave alone are, rightly or wrongly, interpreted as signals from powerful people at the top.
Sydney Morning Herald
19-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Jail for former Indonesian trade minister over sugar imports a bitter blow for supporters
One of the architects of the Indonesia-Australia free trade deal and improved bilateral relations has been jailed in what supporters believe was a politically motivated prosecution designed to punish critics of the Indonesian government. Thomas Lembong was jailed for 4½ years for illegally authorising certain sugar imports at the expense of the state when he was serving as the nation's trade minister in 2015-16. Prosecutors requested a prison term of seven years, but a panel of judges gave Lembong a sentencing discount because they accepted he had not enriched himself in any of the supposedly corrupt deals. The Harvard-educated investment banker is respected in Australian political circles for his work in the cabinet of then-president Joko Widodo's cabinet and later as the chief of the country's investment board. Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull credited Lembong with facilitating what became a strong friendship between the Australian leader and Widodo. Loading But Lembong became a critic of Widodo in 2019. Significantly, he also served as an adviser to Anies Baswedan, who ran for president last year and was a serious challenger to Widodo's chosen successor, Prabowo Subianto. Anies could again run for president in 2029. Lembong was arrested in October, days after Prabowo was sworn in as Indonesia's leader and a decade after the supposed crimes. The timing and allegedly 'cherry-picked' charges against a high-profile opponent to the Widodo-Prabowo alliance set off red flags among democracy watchers. High-level corruption is common in Indonesia, and decisions about whom to prosecute and whom to leave alone are, rightly or wrongly, interpreted as signals from powerful people at the top.
Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4½ years in sugar graft case
Find out what's new on ST website and app. JAKARTA – An Indonesian court on July 18 sentenced a former trade minister to 4½ years in jail for improperly granting sugar import permits that the authorities said caused nearly 600 billion rupiah (S$47 million) in state losses. Thomas Trikasih Lembong served as trade minister in 2015 and 2016 under President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo. Once seen as Mr Widodo'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 Indonesia had a surplus of sugar. Indonesia's sugar output in 2015 was 2.49 million tonnes, while consumption was 2.12 million. In the 2024 presidential election, Lembong was the campaign manager for one of the candidates, Mr Anies Baswedan . The election was won in a landslide by Mr Prabowo Subianto, whom Mr Widodo backed. Lembong, who was arrested days after Mr Prabowo's inauguration in 2024, claimed in court that his prosecution was due to his involvement in the opposition camp, local media reported. Prosecutors denied his arrest was politically motivated. '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 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 demanded. Prosecutors said Lembong enriched the private companies. Holding up his handcuffed hands, Lembong told reporters after the sentencing he would consider whether or not to appeal, saying judges ignored his defence team. REUTERS
