JAKARTA – The Indonesian authorities investigating graft have arrested a former trade minister turned government critic on suspicion of improperly granting a sugar import permit in 2015 that led to losses of 400 billion rupiah (S$34 million).
Thomas Trikasih Lembong was named a suspect and arrested late on Oct 29 by prosecutors from the Attorney-General’s office, accused of giving the permit to a private company during a time when Indonesia had a surplus of sugar, the office said.
“At that time, Indonesia did not need to import sugar but (Lembong) granted a permit to import 105,000 tonnes of raw crystal sugar,” prosecutor Abdul Qohar told a press conference.
There was no consultation with other state bodies or a recommendation from the Industry Ministry, he said, adding that the decision had led to losses of 400 billion rupiah.
Mr Qohar did not say what Lembong is accused of having received in return for the permit to the company, which the authorities identified only by its initials, PT AP.
The Attorney-General’s office denied that its investigation had a political motive.
“I surrender everything to God Almighty,” media reported Lembong, handcuffed and wearing a pink detainee vest, as saying after the press conference.
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Reuters could not reach Lembong or his lawyer for comment.
A former investment banker, Lembong was Indonesia’s trade minister from 2015 to 2016 and a close aide of former president Joko Widodo, for whom he often wrote international speeches.
But after leaving office in 2019, he became one of the staunchest critics of Mr Widodo’s government.
Lembong was a campaign manager in February’s presidential election for Mr Anies Baswedan, who ran against the winner, President Prabowo Subianto, widely seen as Mr Widodo’s preferred successor, who took office on Oct 20.
Indonesia’s sugar output in 2015 was 2.49 million tonnes, while consumption was 2.12 million. REUTERS