Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has named former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong, also known as Tom Lembong, a suspect in a corruption case related to sugar imports from 2015 to 2023. 

Abdul Qohar, the Junior Attorney General Special Crimes Director of Invesetigation, said on Tuesday (29/10/2024) that Tom and a second suspect, identified as CS, the former Business Development Director of PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (PPI), are accused of approving unauthorized raw sugar imports and bypassing national guidelines,

In 2015, Tom allegedly permitted the import of 105,000 tons of raw sugar by PT AP despite a government-determined sugar surplus. Regulations stipulate that only state-owned enterprises may import refined sugar. Tom’s decision reportedly disregarded required coordination meetings and industrial recommendations.

CS is suspected of arranging inflated sugar transactions, directing PPI to engage with private firms, which led to the resale of sugar at Rp 16,000 per kilogram, above the set retail price of Rp 13,000. The transactions allegedly incurred a loss of Rp 400 billion for the state.

Both suspects are detained at Salemba Prison for 20 days as the investigation continues.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)