Legal Expert Suggests Former President Jokowi Be Called to Testify in Tom Lembong Sugar Import Corruption Trial
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Administrative law expert from Atma Jaya University Yogyakarta, Wiryawan Chandra, has suggested that former president Joko Widodo be called to testify in the sugar import corruption trial of former trade minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong, also known as Tom Lembong.
Wiryawan argued that examining Jokowi in court is important to clarify the positions of those who gave and those who received orders regarding the fulfilment of sugar stocks.
"The president should ideally be brought in to provide testimony here, confirming that he indeed gave the directive. That would be clearer, more objective, and would also clarify the chain of accountability," Wiryawan said at the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday, 23 June 2025.
If there was indeed a presidential directive at the time and the minister acted upon it, Wiryawan said, then there should be evidence such as official memoranda or other documents.
He argued that the sugar stock fulfilment case, which led to the emergence of an import policy, cannot be separated from the role and responsibility of the president for every assignment given to ministers.
A head of government, he said, bears responsibility for every action and order issued.
"A good official and leader would naturally take responsibility for the assignments they have given," he said.
According to Wiryawan, a minister is the secondary party responsible, whilst the president is the primary party responsible for every assignment given. This is because, under administrative law, a person who carries out an order does not bear independent responsibility — the principal accountability for that order lies with the one who gave it.
During his testimony at the Tom Lembong trial, Wiryawan did not specifically name the president in question. However, as is widely known, during the 2015-2016 period, the presidency was held by Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
Wiryawan argued that examining Jokowi in court is important to clarify the positions of those who gave and those who received orders regarding the fulfilment of sugar stocks.
"The president should ideally be brought in to provide testimony here, confirming that he indeed gave the directive. That would be clearer, more objective, and would also clarify the chain of accountability," Wiryawan said at the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday, 23 June 2025.
If there was indeed a presidential directive at the time and the minister acted upon it, Wiryawan said, then there should be evidence such as official memoranda or other documents.
He argued that the sugar stock fulfilment case, which led to the emergence of an import policy, cannot be separated from the role and responsibility of the president for every assignment given to ministers.
A head of government, he said, bears responsibility for every action and order issued.
"A good official and leader would naturally take responsibility for the assignments they have given," he said.
According to Wiryawan, a minister is the secondary party responsible, whilst the president is the primary party responsible for every assignment given. This is because, under administrative law, a person who carries out an order does not bear independent responsibility — the principal accountability for that order lies with the one who gave it.
During his testimony at the Tom Lembong trial, Wiryawan did not specifically name the president in question. However, as is widely known, during the 2015-2016 period, the presidency was held by Joko Widodo (Jokowi).