Tom Lembong Expresses Confidence After Reading BPKP Audit in Sugar Import Corruption Case
The trial of former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong, known as Tom Lembong, over alleged corruption in sugar imports continues. Most recently, Tom Lembong has expressed growing confidence that he did not commit corruption, following his review of the audit results submitted by the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP).
The BPKP audit results had previously been submitted to the panel of judges and Tom Lembong's legal team.
"After spending several days reading, examining and analysing the BPKP audit, I am very confident, very assured, and very ready to face the BPKP expert witness. I am increasingly convinced that there are no state losses. I am increasingly convinced that there was no criminal act of corruption. Let alone corruption — I am increasingly convinced there was no criminal act whatsoever," Tom Lembong said after the hearing on Thursday, 19 June 2025.
Thomas Trikasih Lembong previously served as Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and as Trade Minister. The Jakarta-born official held the position of BKPM Head from 27 July 2016 to 20 October 2019. He was appointed Trade Minister in 2015, replacing Rahmat Gobel.
Before taking up senior government positions, Tom Lembong had a career at several international financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and Farindo Investments. He began his career as a Sales and Trading Associate at Morgan Stanley and Company, later working in Morgan Stanley's Equities Division in Singapore, before serving as Senior Manager in the Corporate Finance Department at Makindo, and subsequently as an investment banker at Deutsche Securities.
The BPKP audit results had previously been submitted to the panel of judges and Tom Lembong's legal team.
"After spending several days reading, examining and analysing the BPKP audit, I am very confident, very assured, and very ready to face the BPKP expert witness. I am increasingly convinced that there are no state losses. I am increasingly convinced that there was no criminal act of corruption. Let alone corruption — I am increasingly convinced there was no criminal act whatsoever," Tom Lembong said after the hearing on Thursday, 19 June 2025.
Thomas Trikasih Lembong previously served as Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and as Trade Minister. The Jakarta-born official held the position of BKPM Head from 27 July 2016 to 20 October 2019. He was appointed Trade Minister in 2015, replacing Rahmat Gobel.
Before taking up senior government positions, Tom Lembong had a career at several international financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and Farindo Investments. He began his career as a Sales and Trading Associate at Morgan Stanley and Company, later working in Morgan Stanley's Equities Division in Singapore, before serving as Senior Manager in the Corporate Finance Department at Makindo, and subsequently as an investment banker at Deutsche Securities.