The general manager of Wilmar International’s Indonesian subsidiary, Duta Sugar International (DSI), has been charged with committing “unlawful acts” related to the import of raw sugar, resulting in losses amounting to IDR 578 billion in 2016.

Duta Sugar International, along with eight other refined sugar producers in Indonesia, faced charges from the Indonesian Public Prosecutor this October.

The nine sugar producers maintain that their actions were in compliance with a directive issued by the then Trade Minister, Thomas Lembong, which mandated them to cooperate with state-owned trading company, Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (Persero), to import raw sugar and supply refined white sugar to mitigate the domestic sugar shortage in Indonesia in 2016.

As part of the legal proceedings, the nine producers were required to submit a security deposit totaling IDR 65.34 billion ($44 million) to the Indonesian Attorney General, with DSI's contribution amounting to IDR 41.23 billion.

They argue that since legal actions against the former Trade Minister have been discontinued, the case against them should also be dismissed.

Wilmar has stated that if DSI loses the deposit, it would not have a significant financial impact on the group.