The Shiro Copr , Jakarta -The Jakarta Corruption Court judges, during the verdict reading session, sentenced former Minister of Trade Thomas Trikasih Lembong to 4.5 years in prison. Tom Lembong In the case of sugar import corruption crimes from 2015 to 2016. "Imposing a prison sentence of four years and six months on the defendant Thomas Trikasih Lembong," said Chairman of the Court Rianto Dennie Arsan Fatrika, Friday, July 18, 2025.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court also sentenced Tom Lembong to pay a fine of Rp 750 million. If not paid, he will be sentenced to six months in prison. The court's verdict is lower than the prosecutor's recommendation, which was seven years in prison and a fine of Rp 750 million, with a subsidiary sentence of six months in prison.
Tom Lembong was found guilty of violating Article 2 paragraph (1) of Law Number 31 Year 1999 on Eradication Corruption Crime as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 (1) paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.
Former KPK investigator Aulia Postiera confirmed, The verdict against Tom Lembong has become a serious warning for the direction of law enforcement in Indonesia. He assessed that the sentence ignored the main principle in criminal law, namely the element of mens rea or evil intent.
"However, in this case, Lembong has not been proven to have enriched himself, has not received a bribe, and did not have a malicious motive behind the sugar import policy he issued while in office," he said in his statement received. Time ,July 19, 2025.
How do the provisions sound?
Article 2 paragraph (1) of Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 states that anyone who, in violation of the law, commits an act of enriching himself or another person or a corporation that can harm the state's finances or economy shall be sentenced to a minimum of 4 years and a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, and a fine of at least 200 million rupiah and a maximum of 1 billion rupiah.
Article 55 paragraph (1) number 1 of the Criminal Code reads:
(1) The accused as the perpetrator of a criminal act:
1. Those who commit, those who order the commission, and those who participate in the act;
2. Those who, by abusing their authority or status, through violence, threats or deception, or by providing opportunities, means or information, intentionally incite others to commit an act.
The court's verdict on Tom Lembung revealed aggravating and mitigating circumstances, among the aggravating factors:
1. The defendant, when serving as Minister of Trade, the person in charge of the government's authority in the field of trade, appeared to prioritize capitalist economy policies over the democratic economic system and the Pancasila-based economic system according to the 1945 Constitution, which emphasizes general welfare and social justice;
2. The defendant, while serving as Minister of Trade, did not carry out his duties and responsibilities based on the principle of legal certainty, and placed the law with the provisions of legislation as the basis for taking every policy in controlling and stabilizing prices in the field of trade, particularly sugar;
3. The defendant, when serving as the Minister of Trade, did not carry out his duties and responsibilities in an accountable, responsible, beneficial, and fair manner in controlling and ensuring the stability of the price of affordable and accessible sugar for the community as end consumers or as a basic necessity, in the form of white crystal sugar;
4. The defendant, when serving as the Minister of Trade, ignored the interests of the society as end consumers of white crystal sugar, who sought to obtain white crystal sugar at a stable and affordable price. The price of white crystal sugar remained high in 2016.
Mitigating Factors for Tom Lembong
- The defendant has no prior criminal record or has never been sentenced to a criminal penalty.
- The defendant did not obtain personal benefits from the corruption crime he committed.
- During the trial process, the defendant showed a cooperative and polite attitude, and did not hinder the proceedings.
- The defendant has entrusted some money to Attorney General's Office At the investigation stage as a form of good faith to compensate for the state's financial losses.
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