Indonesian authorities have arrested former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasi Lembong on suspicion of improperly granting a sugar import license in 2015, resulting in a $25 million loss to the government.
Prosecutors at the Attorney General’s Office identified Lembong as a suspect, accusing him of issuing a license for the importation of 105,000 metric tons of sugar despite a surplus within the country. Attorney General Abdul Kohar stated at a press conference that Indonesia had no need for sugar imports at the time and highlighted the absence of inquiries from other government agencies or recommendations from the Ministry of Industry regarding the license.
The decision is estimated to have caused a financial loss of approximately 400 billion Indonesian rupiah ($25.42 million). After being taken into custody, Lembong remarked, “I leave everything to God Almighty.”
This case comes on the heels of a similar sugar fraud incident in Sri Lanka, where no action has yet been taken against those involved.
