Judge Questions Alleged Role of TNI/Polri Cooperatives in Sugar Imports

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court, led by Chief Judge Dennie Arsan Fatrika, on Tuesday (6/5/2025), questioned the implementation of market operations to control sugar prices from several TNI/Polri cooperatives, especially since these cooperatives acknowledged their limited funds to distribute sugar to the public. The decision to collaborate with distributor companies by several cooperatives was deemed to complicate and lengthen the distribution process of sugar to the community.

The question arose during the continued hearing of witness examination in the corruption case of sugar imports at the Ministry of Trade, with the defendant being former Minister of Trade Thomas Trikasih Lembong, also known as Tom Lembong.

In the hearing, the prosecutor presented several witnesses, namely Lieutenant Colonel CHK Sipayung as the former Head of the Legal and Security Division of the Army Cooperative or the Kartika Cooperative; Mudji Waluyo and Aji Cahya Soedarsono from the National Police Cooperative of the Republic of Indonesia (Inkoppol); and AKBP Kasman from the National Police Cooperative Center of the Republic of Indonesia (Puskoppol Mabes Polri).

As revealed by the prosecutor in the indictment, Tom Lembong did not designate a state-owned enterprise for the control of sugar availability and price stabilization. Tom Lembong was mentioned as having appointed the Army Cooperative, the National Police Cooperative of the Republic of Indonesia (Inkoppol), and the Central Cooperative of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Puskoppol Mabes Polri) to conduct market operations.

Judge Alfis Setiawan, one of the members of the panel of judges, interrogated a witness, Lieutenant Colonel CHK Sipayung, who is the former Head of the Legal and Security Division of the Army Cooperative or Kartika Cooperative, with a series of questions.

The questions raised included the request from Inkopkar or the Kartika Cooperative Federation to the Ministry of Trade to conduct a market operation for affordable sugar for the community. This market operation request was submitted by Inkopkar to be carried out in 2015 and 2016.

The request was made following the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Trade and the Army in 2013. The market operation also collaborates with PT Angels Products, which supplies imported consumer sugar, and several designated distribution companies.

The market operation also collaborates with PT Angels Products, which supplies imported consumption sugar, and several designated distribution companies.

According to Sipayung, his party did indeed submit a request for a cheap sugar market operation to the Ministry of Trade when it was led by Rachmat Gobel as the Minister of Trade on May 21, 2015. Subsequently, Rachmat Gobel approved the implementation of the market operation on June 4.

Then, when Tom Lembong served as Minister of Trade for the period 2015-2016, his side again submitted a request for an extension of the market operation as the realization of sugar distribution was only 50 percent of the total 100,000 tons of sugar.

The market operation was conducted in collaboration with PT Angels Products. PT Angels Products, as the refining sugar company, played a role in importing raw crystal sugar and processing it into white crystal sugar.

Regarding the market operation, Sipayung continued, they proposed a total of 100,000 tons of sugar for the market operation in 2015. Then, in 2016, they submitted another proposal for 105,000 tons for the same market operation.

However, Sipayung admitted that he did not know who decided for Inkopkar to collaborate with PT Angels Products. PT Angels Products is owned by entrepreneur Tommy Winata.

"We submitted a request. One of the requirements stated that we must have a factory. Since we do not have a factory, that might be why (the company) Angel was chosen," said Sipayung.

In the implementation of the market operation involving 100,000 tons of white crystal sugar, Inkopkar gained a profit of Rp 75 per kilogram. This market operation was conducted through designated distributors, including CV Putera Benteng, PT Yalucy, UD Benteng Baru, PT Wijayatama Langgengperkasa, and CV Tetap Jaya.

"Why do we have to cooperate with distributors again?" Judge Alfis asked Sipayung.

"Yes, so it can be sold directly, sir," answered Sipayung.

"Why doesn't the cooperative do it? You said earlier that this cooperative has branches all over Indonesia?" Judge Alfis asked.

Inkopkar should be able to use their cooperatives to carry out market operations in the distribution of sugar.

Judge Alfis continued, Inkopkar should be able to utilize their cooperatives to conduct market operations in the distribution of sugar. If the market operation is carried out by sourcing sugar from PT Angels Products and sending it to Inkopkar's cooperative branches throughout Indonesia, it would be easier and more targeted. However, the method employed by Inkopkar appears to be rather complicated.

"Why not do that?" asked Judge Alfis.

"Excuse me, sir, I think we can't afford it, the cooperative can't afford to buy that much sugar," replied Sipayung.

"Yes, if you are unable, then do not appoint that cooperative by the Ministry of Trade. This cooperative submits a request, then there is an assignment from the Ministry of Trade, the basis of that request is that I have the capability, I am asking you, Minister, please assign me for the distribution of sugar. Is that correct?" said Judge Alfis.

According to Judge Alfis, if Inkopkar's funds were insufficient, they should not have submitted a market operation application to the Ministry of Trade.

However, Sipayung only responded that the implementation of the market operation was based on the orders of the Army Chief of Staff (KSAD). "Okay, this is it, Sir. We cooperate based on orders, carrying out the cooperation. The military will certainly execute whatever the KSAD commands," Sipayung replied.

"Actually, the process can be shortened, sir. It doesn't have to be as lengthy as you mentioned earlier, the collaboration with Angels Products, and then collaborating again with more than 10 distributors, with payments going to Angels Products. It's quite a lot, sir," said Judge Alfis.

"This is for the community, you know. For the Indonesian community, why is the process like this? Why not make it simpler so that it can be more targeted, right, Sir?" Judge Alfis asked again.

Nevertheless, Sipayung admitted that he could not respond regarding the distribution flow referred to by Judge Alfis. On the other hand, Sipayung revealed that through the market operation, the Inkopkar cooperative earned nearly Rp 7.5 billion. Furthermore, his side did not incur any costs as they were already covered by PT Angels Products.

In addition to the Inkopkar cooperative, Tom Lembong also approved the market operation request from Inkoppol for 200,000 tons of white crystal sugar and from the Puskoppol cooperative for 20,000 tons of sugar in 2016. The market operation also collaborated with several refining sugar companies to import raw sugar, which would then be processed into white crystal sugar.

After hearing the witness's statement, the defendant Tom Lembong stated that he had just taken office as Minister of Trade on August 12, 2015. Meanwhile, the request letter for the market operation from Inkopkar had been submitted since the era of Rahmat Gobel. In addition, in determining the sugar import quota, Tom Lembong emphasized that it is adjusted based on the production capacity of each company's factory.

In this case, Tom Lembong was accused of committing acts of enriching himself or another person or a corporation. 

There are 10 individuals who are alleged to have benefited from the corruption case involving sugar imports, including Tonny Wijaya as the President Director of PT Angels Product (IDR 144.1 billion), Wisnu Hendraningrat as the President Director of PT Andalan Furnindo (IDR 41.8 billion), Hansen Setiawan as the President Director of PT Sentra Usahatama Jaya (IDR 36.8 billion), and Indra Suryaningrat as the President Director of PT Medan Sugar Industry (IDR 64.5 billion).

Next, Then Surianto Eka Prasetyo as the Director of PT Makassar Tene (Rp 31.1 billion), Hendrogianto Antonio Tiwon as the Director of PT Duta Sugar International (Rp 41.2 billion), Ali Sanjaya B as the President Director of PT Kebun Tebu Mas (Rp 47.8 billion), Hans Falita Hutama as the President Director of PT Berkah Manis Makmur (Rp 74.5 billion), Eka Sapanca as the Director of PT Permata Dunia Sukses Utama (Rp 26.1 billion), and Ramakrishna Prasad Venkatesha Murthy through PT Dharmapala Usaha Sukses (Rp 5.9 billion).