TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A politician from Gerindra Party and member of Commission III of the House of Representatives, Muhammad Rahul, mentioned that the Attorney General's Office (AGO) was too hasty in naming Tom Lembong as a suspect in a corruption case regarding sugar importation. "The naming of Tom Lembong as a suspect in the alleged corruption case of sugar importation, in my opinion, seems too rushed, Mr. Attorney General," said Rahul during a meeting of Commission III with the Attorney General at the Nusantara II Building, DPR RI, Jakarta, on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

He also requested the AGO to explain in detail to the public the legal construction of the corruption case allegedly involving the former trade minister during Jokowi's era. "Mr. Attorney General, do not let this case lead to negative public opinion and the perception that President Prabowo Subianto's government is using the law as a political tool," he added.

Previously, on Tuesday night, October 29, 2024, around 9:00 PM local time, Tom Lembong left the interrogation room wearing a pink detainee vest. When asked by the media, he just smiled and went straight into the detainee vehicle. Around 9:15 PM, the vehicle carrying Tom Lembong left the Attorney General's Office building.

The former trade minister during President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's era (2015-2016) underwent a 10-hour interrogation at the Attorney General's Office after being named a suspect. He was named a suspect for allegedly issuing permits for sugar imports during his tenure as trade minister from 2015 to 2016. The AGO also suspects that the state incurred losses amounting to IDR 400 billion due to the case.

Aside from Tom Lembong, another suspect has been named by the AGO in this sugar import corruption case. He is the Director of Business Development of PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (PT PPI), Charles Sitorus. Apart from being the Director of Business Development, Charles also serves as an Independent Commissioner of PT PLN (Persero). The AGO suspects Tom and Charles were involved in a corruption case of raw crystal sugar imports totaling 105 tons during that period.

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