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INDONESIAN
LAW UPDATE 2008
[June 2008]
Temasek Sell all of its Shares in Indosat Cellular Provider to Qatar.
Following the lost at the appeal court, Temasek of Singapore then sold
all of its shares to Qatar Telecom. Temasek and its 8
subsidiaries has been found by KPPU for conducting unfair business
through direct and indirect ownership and management at 2 major cellular
provider in Indonesia, PT Indosat and PT Telkomsel.
Indonesia Anti Corruption Commission (KPK) Initiate Investigation at the
Supreme Court. The warrant has been released to start the
investigation at the Indonesian Supreme Court (equal to High Court at
Common Law) in accordance to fees applied illegally and unreported to
the state finance. There are Rp 31,1 billion (USD 300 million) revenue
unreported, an income paid by law seekers at all level of the
Indonesian court during 2005-2007, according to the Indonesian
Corruption Watch - an Indonesian NGO watchdog.
KPK initiate to
Investigate State Loss at BP Migas. The total loss of the
Central Government budget to the Local Government of Rp 225 trillion (USD
21 billion) is at Rp 25 trillion. The said de-consentration budget was
paid to BP Migas, an independent authority in oil and as exploration and
management which shares are fully owned by government. Previously, KPK
also investigate state loss at 10 Departments, 11 State Enterprises and
1 Provincial Government, where a bigger number loss was found, where
state properties has been awarded and illegally transferred into private
properties by government officials during tenure. A number of lands and
houses has been identified and
confiscated,
and the private personnel are now facing trial at the Anti Corruption
Court.
Again, KPK
arrested 5 staff at the Indonesian Custom Office. The 5
government staffs were found guilty for graft received from businessmen
at Tanjung Priok Port, the major port in Jakarta. To respond this, Vice
President Yusuf Kalla warned that each party must refrain from bribe, be
it the businessmen, staff or higher level staffs. According to a
construction businessmen, graft take almost 30% of the business in
Indonesia, especially in dealing with the port authorities. They agree
to start a 'zero tolerance to bribery'.
[May 2008]
Temasek of Singapore lost the Case against KPPU. The award by
the Indonesian Business Competition Commission - KPPU penalized 9 of
cellular telephone operators in Indonesia for monopoly through share
ownership at a number of cellular providers in Indonesia. The 9
companies are Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd, Singapore Technology Telemedia
Pte. Ltd, STT Communications Ltd., Asia Mobile Holding Company Pte.
Ltd, Indonesia Communications Limited, Indonesia Communications Pte,
Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., and Singapore Telecom Mobile Pte. Ltd
and PT Telkomsel. The KPPU award are that the 9 companies are found for
breaching article 27 Law 5 year 1999 on Competition Law (for unfair
competition), KPPU also ordered Temasek and its 8 subsidiaries to sell
all of its shares at either PT Telkomsel or PT Indosat within 12 months,
where prospective buyers must not have an afiliation with Temasek, and
finally fines Temasek (and 8 subsidiaries) and PT Telkomsel to each pay
fine of Rp15 billion. The Temasek then also found thier lost at the
Appeal Court, where the award are tougher than the KPPU Award.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
appoint Chairman for Institute for National Goods and Services
Procurement. The said Institute under the National Development
Body (Bappenas) will be staffed to continuously analyze, monitor and to
secure the transparency and accountable government procurement. The
institute and its appointment is drawn under the President Decision
34/M/2008, a complement to the previous President Decision 80/2003 of
Government Goods and Services Procurement. The law has effectively
curbed corruption, collusion and nepotism between government officer and
brokers.
Indonesia Suggest the Implementation of UNCLOS 1982, remain. This
position was released from Indonesia, represented by the Indonesian
Director General for Law and
International Treaties
of the Department of Foreign Affairs, in respond to the United Nations
draft resolution to additional authority by the UN Security Council (UN
SC) within the IMO authority to combat sea piracy at most archipelagic
states, where territorial sea status may change into international sea,
which is in contrary to the United Nations Conference on the Law of the
Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982) and United Nations Charter. The proposal will
allow the UN SC warfare directly entering territorial sea without
coastal state consent to combat sea pirates, where no coastal state
jurisdiction applied. Indonesia suggested, that the UNCLOS 1982 shall
remain, and the combat of sea piracy shall be left to the coastal state
jurisdiction under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as it
used to, instead taken over by the UN SC. So far, the security over the
Malacca Strait has successfully been controlled by Indonesia, Singapore
and Malaysia, where sea piracy has been significantly reduced.
Poll 10 years of Reformation. Another national circulation
news papers in Indonesia held its poll by 871 respondents from 6-7 May
2008, shows that generally 75% of respondents shows their great concern
over the economy slow down since Reformation 1998. It is the government
they blame to cut subsidies for foods, wheat flour, sugar, corn, fish in
1998, and soon to cut subsidy for premium and kerosene. Welfare State in
terms of feeding people, lost its meanings when the government fails to
secure its people from hunger and unemployment as shown by 50,5%
respondents, while 19,7% are for legal supremacy failure and 16,5% for
social and welfare failure. Nevertheless, still big numbers of
respondents thank reformation for its freedom of speech and to unite.
Further, 10 year Reformation 1998 shows positive responses for better
security and politics (35,1%), law enforcement (17,7%), social and
public access (14,5%), and economy (4,1%). Failure of reformation also
shown, where government fails in economy (50,5%), law enforcement
(19,7%), social and welfare (16,5%), politics and security (5,4%) and in
general (2,1%). Generally respondents find pessimism for a better
Indonesia in 5 years ahead (53,6%) pinpointing the unclear of national
future plan (66,8%). The 4 amendment of the constitution and the
strengthening of public institutions are merely normative, where
politicians remain unaware to put great concern over the people.
Regional autonomy
brought local politics competition, instead of independency and growth
for the people.
[April 2008]
Poll of 10 year of Reformation. The poll held by Demos, a
research institute in human rights and democracy, shows a fundamental
change reduce from 74% in 2004 to 66% in 2007 for freedom to embrace
religion, language and culture, also a significant reduce from 74% in
2004 to 60% in 2006 for freedom of speech, to unite and to engage into
an organization. This is as a result that democracy in Indonesia are
viewed in various form, different paradigm of democracy by the people,
and also that democracy find it obstacle from economy policies in terms
of globalization. Therefore, a new rigid and solid policy in law and
government must win over economy policy. However, significant progress
is clearly shown by the actions towards new laws and regulations,
significant corruption extermination, less abuse of powers by government
officials, and the obedience of law by government officials and public
officials.
Poll on Government
Legal Officers. The poll held earlier in March 2008 by
867 respondents at 13 major cities in Indonesia shows public
disappointment towards legal officers performance these days, where
73,2% perceive no public service are free from corruption by its
officers, legal officers in particular. The General Attorney’s Office
and Police Institution received 95,4% and 73,4% respondents' distrust,
respectively. Indonesian Anti Corruption (KPK) also receive 73,4%,
following the arrest of its member (a police retiree) for a graft and
blackmailing during a corruption investigation by a state enterprise,
last February 2008. Again it is the General Attorney Office and Police
Institution were those who did not commit to corruption extermination by
84,7% and 81,2% respectively, including the Supreme Court (75,3%), the
Court (82,2%), and KPK (67,2%). Almost half respondents (55,2%) do not
trust the commitment to combat corruption in general in contrary to
42,7% who remain in trust. Of the image, General Attorneys good image
increase from 29,3% up from 22,3% last year the same period. Even worse,
74,4% respondents distrust the court. It is now the public compel the
renewal of new tougher bill of anti corruption, since they perceive the
current laws and regulation is good since its inception in 1998, but did
not sufficiently implemented. A new credible and accountable legal
officer is a must.
Malaysian
High Rank Officer involved in Illegal Logging.
According to
its investigation by an Indonesian newspaper issued 9 April 2008,
the said Malaysian person uses a Malaysian company Hardwood Timber SDN
BHD in the process of disbursing papers to turn illegal into legal
woods. The illegal woods are from Borneo, Indonesia, then exported to
Malaysia through Indonesia-Malaysia borders. The Indonesian consulate
officer in Kuching, Malaysia who witnessed the Malaysian importing
papers, found it fake due to the use of wrong spelling of Bahasa
Indonesia. However, Malaysian authority denied.
Poll on
Member of the Parliament. The polls, generally shows significant
perception, where 822 respondents (over 17 years of age at 10 big
cities) low trust is shown for member' appearance during sessions (24%
trust compared to 70,4% distrust), too much travel abroad than being at
office (74,2% agree to 22,9% disagree), do not aware for people'
criticism (69,2% to 27,4%) and always request additional facilities
(agree 75,9%-disagree 22,4%).
Houses of Government Asset valued at Rp371 trillion , missing.
The said numbers are houses under government proprietary being reviewed,
which big numbers has been transformed illegally into private
proprietary, according to the calculation of the Directorate General for
State Inventory of the Department of Finance, recently. KPK then seized
at least 11 government-owned houses in Bandung, West Java, which has
long been illegally transferred into private by the government officers
for themselves. Other houses will follow. Of 77 department and
government institutions, only 20 has conducted reviews of its assets
since 2007.
[March 2008]
Malaysian Subsidiary Company in Media Content Accused for Unfair Trade
Practices. The Indonesian Fair Trade Competition - KPPU
identified the Astro All Network Plc (Malaysia) - AAMN breached article
19 paragraph c of the Indonesian Competition Law. AAMN has intentionally
through its business contract defined and limit distribution and trade
of service and/or goods based on the initial investigation, where AAMN
monopolized and took control the distribution of the said TV program
during the England Football League
2007.
Government of Egypt: 40% anti dumping measure dropped to
Indonesian Tire Products. The initial complaint in August 2006
then was reduces into “a slight margin of dumping by the Indonesian
exporters” after the WTO agreements the allegation and tax was recently
lifted. During the investigations period, Indonesian tire export to
Egypt hit US$ 70-80 million per year. Bit with dumping duties cut, the
Indonesian tire exports to could easily reach US$ 1 billion mark. The
new policy is expected to further enhance the bilateral cooperation and
create new opportunities in a better environment for mutual businesses
to develop and flourish. Bilateral trade between both countries over the
last six years increased by more than 150 percent. With its 80 million
people and promising economy, Egypt is an attractive market for
Indonesia. The archipelago’s exports to Egypt reached $484.48 million in
the first 10 month of 2007 and imports hit $40.57 million in 2006 during
the same period.
8 years sentence in
Prison for Judicial Commission Member.
The anti-corruption Court verdict included a Rp 400 million fine
for Irawady Joenoes for accepting bribes in a land procurement deal, as
the court has proven it violate the 1999 Law on Corruption. Irawady act
also had damaged his institution’s reputations. The initial case was
the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators arrested
Irawady and an Indonesian-Chinese businessman Freddy Santosa on Sept. 27
last year. Freddy was sentenced four years in prison on February 21.
Government School Text book Copyrights Take Over. The
Indonesian government now has taken over a number of school text book
from its authors and will list them on the web for free to public. This
in order to provide free and cheap school text books and to reduce the
text book price which amazingly reaching 3 to 4x times higher than it
has to be as a result of oligopoly practices by bookstores. The policy
will also eradicate collusion and corruption between authors,
publishers, bookstores and school. Students and pupils now can download
any school text book valid for five years period available for free at
the official website of department of education.
Indonesian Supreme Court Verdict
for Australian Heroin Smuggler. Schapelle Corby, one of other
member of Bali 9 appeal was accepted but the Court of 3 members of
supreme judges rejected her request, where her sentence remain 20 year
in jail for smuggling 9,3 kg of heroin to Bali last 2006.
Government Expects ASEAN Charter to be Ratified by July.
The Charter is expected to be ratified by July after receiving informal
approval from the House, according to a foreign ministry official. The
ramification and thorough explanation documents as requested by the
House will be submitted in April or May, where the House are very
concerned of decision making, consensus, voting, the
promotion and protection of rights.
KPK Seizes Houses of ex-Indonesian Central Bank (BI)
Chief Deputy.
The confiscated house and an apartment belonging to Iwan R Prawiranata
was related to him as a witness in a graft scandal involving the Central
Bank, where it is suspected the house bought was from illegal money
amounted at Rp13 billion. Iwan soon then become suspect, where three
other suspects are current Central Bank Governor Burhanudin Abdullah,
director of Legal Affairs Oey Hoy Tiong and Rusli Simandjuntak, head of
the central bank s office in Surabaya, East Java. All except Burhanudin
are being detained. The report says in 2003 Burhanudin led a meeting of
BI directors to Approve the disbursement of Rp. 100 billion from the
YPPI. The money was handed over to Oey by YPPI chairman Baridjusalam
Hadi and treasure
Indonesian Finance Minister:
Bureaucrats are Prone to be Bribed. Ms Sri Muljani a former of
Indonesian' IMF officer, strongly suggest private sectors to star to
adopt 'zero tolerance of corruption' through not to support bribe as
part of culture, in order to create a clean, responsible and respectable
government. She noted that bureaucrat who asked for 'grease' do not gain
respects from the community. According to a source, the community are
very active in reporting bribery and blackmailing by bureaucrats.
Indonesian General Attorney'
Officer Caught for Graft. The KPK undercover agents
caught the officer, Urip Tri Gunawan, at Syamsul Nursalim house in West
Jakarta, an Indonesian Chinese- Conglomerate who then bribed the officer
at the amount of USD 660,000 (equal to Rp 6 billion). The graft was
suspected in connection to General Attorney' decision to discontinue the
investigation of the Liquidity Bank Support by the Indonesian Central
Bank in 1997, involving Rp600 trillion (USD 66 billion) financial
support to a number of Indonesian banks, which money was then robbed and
transferred by the bank owners to a number of Indonesian surrounding
countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Hong Kong and China.
INDONESIAN
LAW UPDATE 2008
[June 2008]
Temasek Sell all of its Shares in Indosat Cellular Provider to Qatar.
Following the lost at the appeal court, Temasek of Singapore then sold
all of its shares to Qatar Telecom. Temasek and its 8
subsidiaries has been found by KPPU for conducting unfair business
through direct and indirect ownership and management at 2 major cellular
provider in Indonesia, PT Indosat and PT Telkomsel.
Indonesia Anti Corruption Commission (KPK) Initiate Investigation at the
Supreme Court. The warrant has been released to start the
investigation at the Indonesian Supreme Court (equal to High Court at
Common Law) in accordance to fees applied illegally and unreported to
the state finance. There are Rp 31,1 billion (USD 300 million) revenue
unreported, an income paid by law seekers at all level of the
Indonesian court during 2005-2007, according to the Indonesian
Corruption Watch - an Indonesian NGO watchdog.
KPK initiate to
Investigate State Loss at BP Migas. The total loss of the
Central Government budget to the Local Government of Rp 225 trillion (USD
21 billion) is at Rp 25 trillion. The said de-consentration budget was
paid to BP Migas, an independent authority in oil and as exploration and
management which shares are fully owned by government. Previously, KPK
also investigate state loss at 10 Departments, 11 State Enterprises and
1 Provincial Government, where a bigger number loss was found, where
state properties has been awarded and illegally transferred into private
properties by government officials during tenure. A number of lands and
houses has been identified and
confiscated,
and the private personnel are now facing trial at the Anti Corruption
Court.
Again, KPK
arrested 5 staff at the Indonesian Custom Office. The 5
government staffs were found guilty for graft received from businessmen
at Tanjung Priok Port, the major port in Jakarta. To respond this, Vice
President Yusuf Kalla warned that each party must refrain from bribe, be
it the businessmen, staff or higher level staffs. According to a
construction businessmen, graft take almost 30% of the business in
Indonesia, especially in dealing with the port authorities. They agree
to start a 'zero tolerance to bribery'.
[May 2008]
Temasek of Singapore lost the Case against KPPU. The award by
the Indonesian Business Competition Commission - KPPU penalized 9 of
cellular telephone operators in Indonesia for monopoly through share
ownership at a number of cellular providers in Indonesia. The 9
companies are Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd, Singapore Technology Telemedia
Pte. Ltd, STT Communications Ltd., Asia Mobile Holding Company Pte.
Ltd, Indonesia Communications Limited, Indonesia Communications Pte,
Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., and Singapore Telecom Mobile Pte. Ltd
and PT Telkomsel. The KPPU award are that the 9 companies are found for
breaching article 27 Law 5 year 1999 on Competition Law (for unfair
competition), KPPU also ordered Temasek and its 8 subsidiaries to sell
all of its shares at either PT Telkomsel or PT Indosat within 12 months,
where prospective buyers must not have an afiliation with Temasek, and
finally fines Temasek (and 8 subsidiaries) and PT Telkomsel to each pay
fine of Rp15 billion. The Temasek then also found thier lost at the
Appeal Court, where the award are tougher than the KPPU Award.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
appoint Chairman for Institute for National Goods and Services
Procurement. The said Institute under the National Development
Body (Bappenas) will be staffed to continuously analyze, monitor and to
secure the transparency and accountable government procurement. The
institute and its appointment is drawn under the President Decision
34/M/2008, a complement to the previous President Decision 80/2003 of
Government Goods and Services Procurement. The law has effectively
curbed corruption, collusion and nepotism between government officer and
brokers.
Indonesia Suggest the Implementation of UNCLOS 1982, remain. This
position was released from Indonesia, represented by the Indonesian
Director General for Law and
International Treaties
of the Department of Foreign Affairs, in respond to the United Nations
draft resolution to additional authority by the UN Security Council (UN
SC) within the IMO authority to combat sea piracy at most archipelagic
states, where territorial sea status may change into international sea,
which is in contrary to the United Nations Conference on the Law of the
Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982) and United Nations Charter. The proposal will
allow the UN SC warfare directly entering territorial sea without
coastal state consent to combat sea pirates, where no coastal state
jurisdiction applied. Indonesia suggested, that the UNCLOS 1982 shall
remain, and the combat of sea piracy shall be left to the coastal state
jurisdiction under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as it
used to, instead taken over by the UN SC. So far, the security over the
Malacca Strait has successfully been controlled by Indonesia, Singapore
and Malaysia, where sea piracy has been significantly reduced.
Poll 10 years of Reformation. Another national circulation
news papers in Indonesia held its poll by 871 respondents from 6-7 May
2008, shows that generally 75% of respondents shows their great concern
over the economy slow down since Reformation 1998. It is the government
they blame to cut subsidies for foods, wheat flour, sugar, corn, fish in
1998, and soon to cut subsidy for premium and kerosene. Welfare State in
terms of feeding people, lost its meanings when the government fails to
secure its people from hunger and unemployment as shown by 50,5%
respondents, while 19,7% are for legal supremacy failure and 16,5% for
social and welfare failure. Nevertheless, still big numbers of
respondents thank reformation for its freedom of speech and to unite.
Further, 10 year Reformation 1998 shows positive responses for better
security and politics (35,1%), law enforcement (17,7%), social and
public access (14,5%), and economy (4,1%). Failure of reformation also
shown, where government fails in economy (50,5%), law enforcement
(19,7%), social and welfare (16,5%), politics and security (5,4%) and in
general (2,1%). Generally respondents find pessimism for a better
Indonesia in 5 years ahead (53,6%) pinpointing the unclear of national
future plan (66,8%). The 4 amendment of the constitution and the
strengthening of public institutions are merely normative, where
politicians remain unaware to put great concern over the people.
Regional autonomy
brought local politics competition, instead of independency and growth
for the people.
[April 2008]
Poll of 10 year of Reformation. The poll held by Demos, a
research institute in human rights and democracy, shows a fundamental
change reduce from 74% in 2004 to 66% in 2007 for freedom to embrace
religion, language and culture, also a significant reduce from 74% in
2004 to 60% in 2006 for freedom of speech, to unite and to engage into
an organization. This is as a result that democracy in Indonesia are
viewed in various form, different paradigm of democracy by the people,
and also that democracy find it obstacle from economy policies in terms
of globalization. Therefore, a new rigid and solid policy in law and
government must win over economy policy. However, significant progress
is clearly shown by the actions towards new laws and regulations,
significant corruption extermination, less abuse of powers by government
officials, and the obedience of law by government officials and public
officials.
Poll on Government
Legal Officers. The poll held earlier in March 2008 by
867 respondents at 13 major cities in Indonesia shows public
disappointment towards legal officers performance these days, where
73,2% perceive no public service are free from corruption by its
officers, legal officers in particular. The General Attorney’s Office
and Police Institution received 95,4% and 73,4% respondents' distrust,
respectively. Indonesian Anti Corruption (KPK) also receive 73,4%,
following the arrest of its member (a police retiree) for a graft and
blackmailing during a corruption investigation by a state enterprise,
last February 2008. Again it is the General Attorney Office and Police
Institution were those who did not commit to corruption extermination by
84,7% and 81,2% respectively, including the Supreme Court (75,3%), the
Court (82,2%), and KPK (67,2%). Almost half respondents (55,2%) do not
trust the commitment to combat corruption in general in contrary to
42,7% who remain in trust. Of the image, General Attorneys good image
increase from 29,3% up from 22,3% last year the same period. Even worse,
74,4% respondents distrust the court. It is now the public compel the
renewal of new tougher bill of anti corruption, since they perceive the
current laws and regulation is good since its inception in 1998, but did
not sufficiently implemented. A new credible and accountable legal
officer is a must.
Malaysian
High Rank Officer involved in Illegal Logging.
According to
its investigation by an Indonesian newspaper issued 9 April 2008,
the said Malaysian person uses a Malaysian company Hardwood Timber SDN
BHD in the process of disbursing papers to turn illegal into legal
woods. The illegal woods are from Borneo, Indonesia, then exported to
Malaysia through Indonesia-Malaysia borders. The Indonesian consulate
officer in Kuching, Malaysia who witnessed the Malaysian importing
papers, found it fake due to the use of wrong spelling of Bahasa
Indonesia. However, Malaysian authority denied.
Poll on
Member of the Parliament. The polls, generally shows significant
perception, where 822 respondents (over 17 years of age at 10 big
cities) low trust is shown for member' appearance during sessions (24%
trust compared to 70,4% distrust), too much travel abroad than being at
office (74,2% agree to 22,9% disagree), do not aware for people'
criticism (69,2% to 27,4%) and always request additional facilities
(agree 75,9%-disagree 22,4%).
Houses of Government Asset valued at Rp371 trillion , missing.
The said numbers are houses under government proprietary being reviewed,
which big numbers has been transformed illegally into private
proprietary, according to the calculation of the Directorate General for
State Inventory of the Department of Finance, recently. KPK then seized
at least 11 government-owned houses in Bandung, West Java, which has
long been illegally transferred into private by the government officers
for themselves. Other houses will follow. Of 77 department and
government institutions, only 20 has conducted reviews of its assets
since 2007.
[March 2008]
Malaysian Subsidiary Company in Media Content Accused for Unfair Trade
Practices. The Indonesian Fair Trade Competition - KPPU
identified the Astro All Network Plc (Malaysia) - AAMN breached article
19 paragraph c of the Indonesian Competition Law. AAMN has intentionally
through its business contract defined and limit distribution and trade
of service and/or goods based on the initial investigation, where AAMN
monopolized and took control the distribution of the said TV program
during the England Football League
2007.
Government of Egypt: 40% anti dumping measure dropped to
Indonesian Tire Products. The initial complaint in August 2006
then was reduces into “a slight margin of dumping by the Indonesian
exporters” after the WTO agreements the allegation and tax was recently
lifted. During the investigations period, Indonesian tire export to
Egypt hit US$ 70-80 million per year. Bit with dumping duties cut, the
Indonesian tire exports to could easily reach US$ 1 billion mark. The
new policy is expected to further enhance the bilateral cooperation and
create new opportunities in a better environment for mutual businesses
to develop and flourish. Bilateral trade between both countries over the
last six years increased by more than 150 percent. With its 80 million
people and promising economy, Egypt is an attractive market for
Indonesia. The archipelago’s exports to Egypt reached $484.48 million in
the first 10 month of 2007 and imports hit $40.57 million in 2006 during
the same period.
8 years sentence in
Prison for Judicial Commission Member.
The anti-corruption Court verdict included a Rp 400 million fine
for Irawady Joenoes for accepting bribes in a land procurement deal, as
the court has proven it violate the 1999 Law on Corruption. Irawady act
also had damaged his institution’s reputations. The initial case was
the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators arrested
Irawady and an Indonesian-Chinese businessman Freddy Santosa on Sept. 27
last year. Freddy was sentenced four years in prison on February 21.
Government School Text book Copyrights Take Over. The
Indonesian government now has taken over a number of school text book
from its authors and will list them on the web for free to public. This
in order to provide free and cheap school text books and to reduce the
text book price which amazingly reaching 3 to 4x times higher than it
has to be as a result of oligopoly practices by bookstores. The policy
will also eradicate collusion and corruption between authors,
publishers, bookstores and school. Students and pupils now can download
any school text book valid for five years period available for free at
the official website of department of education.
Indonesian Supreme Court Verdict
for Australian Heroin Smuggler. Schapelle Corby, one of other
member of Bali 9 appeal was accepted but the Court of 3 members of
supreme judges rejected her request, where her sentence remain 20 year
in jail for smuggling 9,3 kg of heroin to Bali last 2006.
Government Expects ASEAN Charter to be Ratified by July.
The Charter is expected to be ratified by July after receiving informal
approval from the House, according to a foreign ministry official. The
ramification and thorough explanation documents as requested by the
House will be submitted in April or May, where the House are very
concerned of decision making, consensus, voting, the
promotion and protection of rights.
KPK Seizes Houses of ex-Indonesian Central Bank (BI)
Chief Deputy.
The confiscated house and an apartment belonging to Iwan R Prawiranata
was related to him as a witness in a graft scandal involving the Central
Bank, where it is suspected the house bought was from illegal money
amounted at Rp13 billion. Iwan soon then become suspect, where three
other suspects are current Central Bank Governor Burhanudin Abdullah,
director of Legal Affairs Oey Hoy Tiong and Rusli Simandjuntak, head of
the central bank s office in Surabaya, East Java. All except Burhanudin
are being detained. The report says in 2003 Burhanudin led a meeting of
BI directors to Approve the disbursement of Rp. 100 billion from the
YPPI. The money was handed over to Oey by YPPI chairman Baridjusalam
Hadi and treasure
Indonesian Finance Minister:
Bureaucrats are Prone to be Bribed. Ms Sri Muljani a former of
Indonesian' IMF officer, strongly suggest private sectors to star to
adopt 'zero tolerance of corruption' through not to support bribe as
part of culture, in order to create a clean, responsible and respectable
government. She noted that bureaucrat who asked for 'grease' do not gain
respects from the community. According to a source, the community are
very active in reporting bribery and blackmailing by bureaucrats.
Indonesian General Attorney'
Officer Caught for Graft. The KPK undercover agents
caught the officer, Urip Tri Gunawan, at Syamsul Nursalim house in West
Jakarta, an Indonesian Chinese- Conglomerate who then bribed the officer
at the amount of USD 660,000 (equal to Rp 6 billion). The graft was
suspected in connection to General Attorney' decision to discontinue the
investigation of the Liquidity Bank Support by the Indonesian Central
Bank in 1997, involving Rp600 trillion (USD 66 billion) financial
support to a number of Indonesian banks, which money was then robbed and
transferred by the bank owners to a number of Indonesian surrounding
countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Hong Kong and China.
|
