Indonesian Court Sentences Former Trade Minister for Corruption

On July 18, an Indonesian court imposed a 4.5-year prison sentence on Thomas Trikasih Lembong, the former trade minister, for his involvement in a corruption case concerning sugar import permits. Authorities claimed that his actions led to a staggering loss of nearly 600 billion rupiah (approximately US$36.84 million) to the state, as he unlawfully approved these permits during 2015 and 2016, a period when the country had enough sugar supply for its consumption needs.

Lembong served under President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo but shifted from being a close aide to a vocal critic of the government post-tenure. At the corruption court in Jakarta, judges found him guilty of bypassing necessary consultation procedures with other state agencies and prioritizing private sector interests at the expense of public welfare. They noted that while he did not derive financial gain from the infractions himself, his actions favored specific private companies inappropriately.

During the recent presidential election, Lembong played a pivotal role as the campaign manager for candidate Anies Baswedan, who ultimately lost to Prabowo Subianto, supported by Jokowi. Following the inauguration of Prabowo, Lembong was arrested, with reports suggesting that he believed his prosecution stemmed from his opposition political activities, a claim dismissed by prosecutors. After receiving the verdict, Lembong indicated he would consider appealing, expressing dissatisfaction with how the court addressed his defense arguments.