Alleged bribery case of U.S.-based Monsanto Corporation in Indonesia
Alleged bribery case of U.S.-based Monsanto Corporation in Indonesia
1997-2002 - According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, Monsanto made at least $700,000 in illicit payments
to at least 140 current and former Indonesian government
officials and their family members.
1998 - Monsanto lobbies Indonesia to accept genetically-modified
(GM) crops.
Sep. 12, 2000 - State minister of the environment Sony Keraf
expresses his personal disapproval of the project, along with
pressure from NGOs over concerns of the possible effect of GM
crops on the environment.
Sep. 15, 2000 - Coordinating minister for the economy Rizal Ramli
postponed an agreement between the government of Indonesia and
Monsanto on the development of cotton seeds in South Sulawesi.
Feb. 7, 2001 - Indonesian minister of agriculture Bungaran
Saragih issues Decree No. 107/2001 that allows Monsanto to
provide farmers in South Sulawesi with the seeds to grow its
Bollgard cotton (Bt). The decree is issued based on the Jakarta-
based PT Monagro Kimia's request to sow it seeds in 4.360
hectares of land.
May 2001 - A total of 40 tons of Bollgard cotton seed belonging
to Monsanton, imported by PT Monagro Kimia, arrives from South
Africa.
Jun. 21, 2001 - The first hearing of the case of genetically
modified cotton at Jakarta's state administrative court. The
lawsuit was filed by some NGOs to annul the Ministerial Decree
No. 107/2001.
Feb. 2002 - According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, an employee of a consulting firm that represented
Monsanto gives a senior environment ministry official an envelope
containing US$50,000 in $100 bills at the latter's home.
Sep. 2001 to Aug. 2002 - A study by a post-graduate student from
the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), Maharmah Nadir, shows
that genetically modified cotton grown experimentally in South
Sulawesi has contaminated areas around the plantation owned by
U.S. firm PT Monagro Kimia.
Jan. 2002 & Feb. 2003 - The minister of agriculture issues more
decrees to license the commercialization of Bt transgenetic
cotton.
April 30, 2002 - Some NGOs file an appeal to annul Ministerial
Decree No. 107/2001.
Jan. 6, 2005 - Monsanto Co. agrees to pay a US$1.5 million
penalty to settle charges of bribing the Indonesian government,
the U.S. Justice Department said. The firm was charged with
violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Jan. 8, 2005 - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
declares it is ready to investigate a bribery case involving
Monsanto and sends official letters to the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice.
Source: Various sources