AGO Extends Detention of 4 Suspects in the CPO Export Criminal Case

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has extended the detention period of four alleged corruption suspects in the CPO export case. The detention has been extended by 40 days. 

“40 days has been added to the suspects’ detention, which started from May 9th up to June 17,” said AGO spokesperson Ketut Sumedana in a statement on Wednesday, May 11, Antaranews reported.

The four suspects in question are the Trade Ministry’s director general of foreign trade Indrasari Wisnu Wardhana, WIlmar Nabati Indonesia commissioner Master Parulian Tumanggor, Senior Manager Corporate Affairs PT Pelita Agung Agrindustri/Permata Hijau Group Stanley M.A., and Musim Mas general affair manager Picare Tagore Sitanggang.

The four suspects had been detained since April 19 with Stanley and Picare at the Salemba detention center overseen by the South Jakarta District Court while Master and Indrasari are detained at the Salemba Detention overseen by the Attorney General’s Office. AGO believes this is needed for ongoing investigations.

The CPO export corruption case was initiated after the country saw significant price hikes for cooking oil, as well as the scarcity of the commodity in the market. Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin says the four suspects have acted against the law by conspiring to issue export permits for crude palm oil and violating the government’s 20 percent domestic market obligation (DMO) on the commodity. 

AGO says the suspects directly and indirectly helped rack up prices of cooking oil in the domestic market which also made cooking oil a rare commodity in the market. 

Read: Palm Oil Farmers Suffer Billions in Losses Amid Suspended CPO Exports: Union

ANTARA