Prosecutors reveal 25 parties enriched in CPO POME corruption case

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Public prosecutor Widya Sihombing from the Attorney General’s Office has revealed that 25 parties were enriched in connection with the alleged corruption case involving exports of crude palm oil (CPO) and its derivative products during the 2022-2024 period, which were disguised as palm oil mill effluent (POME). The 25 parties comprise 10 defendants and 15 other legal subjects.

“The actions of the defendants have resulted in a difference between the export duties and levies paid by private parties and the export duties and levies that should have been paid, thereby enriching themselves, others, or a corporation,” the prosecutor stated while reading the indictment at the Corruption Court in Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday.

The prosecutor detailed the 25 parties, including 10 defendants: Lila Harsyah Bakhtiar, who was enriched by Rp25 million, and Muhammad Zulfikar by Rp97.73 billion. It was explained that the money received by Zulfikar stemmed from an agreement with Tony through Benny, whereby Zulfikar would receive a fee of Rp225 per kilogram from exports carried out by Tony through PT Green Product International (GPI) and PT Tanimas Edible Oil (TEO) during the 2022-2024 period.

Total exports by PT GPI and PT TEO amounted to 431.43 million kilograms, so calculated at the agreed fee of Rp225 per kilogram, the total fee amounted to Rp97.07 billion, of which Zulfikar had received Rp3.31 billion through Benny, with Benny receiving Rp2.38 billion.

Other defendants who were enriched include Edy Susanto, by Rp417.75 billion through three companies: PT Sinar Mutiara Nusa Agro, PT Sinar Mutiaranusa Palmindo, and PT Sinar Mutiara Sawita; and Yusrin Husin by Rp445.82 billion through four companies: PT Mitra Agung Swadaya, PT Mitra Agrinusa Sentosa, PT Kencana Permata Nusantara, and PT Swakarya Bangun Pratama.

The prosecutor added that the case also enriched defendant Tony by Rp763.55 billion through two companies, PT GPI and PT TEO; and Randy Tjahyadi Maliwarna by Rp1.02 trillion through three companies: PT Tangguh Agrojaya, PT Trimitra Agrojaya, and PT Bumi Inti Rezeki.

Furthermore, Van Ricardo was enriched through PT Surya Inti Primakarya by Rp563.02 billion; Felix through PT Agrojaya Perdana by Rp100.91 billion; Erwin through PT Bumi Mulia Makmur by Rp493.88 billion; and Robin through PT Cakra Kaya Kreasi by Rp70.59 billion.

In addition, the prosecutor mentioned 15 other legal subjects who were enriched by Rp3.37 billion.

In this case, Fadjar Donny Tjahjadi, Technical Director of Customs at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance for the 2017-2024 period, is charged with causing state losses of Rp7.37 trillion. Fadjar is alleged to have requested the preparation of an engineered scheme for CPO and derivative product exports during 2022-2024, disguised as palm oil mill effluent.

The scheme was prepared through a draft palm oil downstreaming roadmap that categorised liquid products, namely CPO with free fatty acid (FFA) content above 20 percent, as palm acid oil or palm oil mill effluent (PAO/POME).

In addition to preparing the downstreaming roadmap draft, Fadjar, together with the 10 other defendants tried simultaneously, is also charged with committing unlawful acts through laboratory testing at Customs, diversion or alteration of HS (Harmonised System) codes at export stages.

Furthermore, the defendants are accused of avoiding obligations related to domestic market obligation (DMO) export approval requirements and avoiding high export duty and levy tariffs on CPO and derivative products.

The ten defendants are: Lila Harsyah Bakhtiar, Functional Policy Analyst and Senior Industry Development Officer at the Directorate of Forest Product and Plantation Industry of the Ministry of Industry for 2021-2024; Muhammad Zulfikar, Head of Customs and Excise Service Section VI at the Customs and Excise Supervision and Service Office VI Type Madya Pabean B Dumai in 2021; Edy Susanto, President Director of PT Sinar Mutiaranusa Palmindo; Tony, Director of PT Tanimas Edible Oil; and Yusrin Husin, Director and owner of PT Kencana Permata Nusantara.

Also charged are Randy Tjahyadi Maliwarna, Director of PT Trimitra Agro Jaya; Van Ricardo, Director of PT Surya Inti Primakarya; Felix, Director and owner of PT Agrojaya Perdana; Erwin, Director of PT Bumi Mulia Makmur; and Robin, Director of PT Cakra Kaya Kreasi.

For their actions, the 11 individuals are charged with violating criminal provisions under Article 603 in conjunction with Article 20 letter a or letter c in conjunction with Article 3 paragraph (1) of the National Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 18 or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption.