At the Tom Lembong hearing, Rachmat Gobel claimed not to enter sugar when he was a minister

Jakarta – Rachmat Gobel claimed that he had never performed sugar import activities while serving as Minister of Trade (Mendag) of the Republic of Indonesia for the period 2014-2015. Gobel said he served as the Minister of Trade for only ten months. Gobel was presented as a witness to a case of alleged corruption in the importation of sugar with the defendant of the Minister of Trade for the period 2015-2016, Thomas Trikasih Lembong alias Tom Lembong. The hearing was held Thursday (5/15/2025) at Jakarta Corruption Court, Jalan Bungur Raya, Central -Jakarta. ‘Are you once the Minister of Trade in 2014 to 2015? Can you explain exactly in which month what month ‘? ‘Ask chief justice of judges Dennie Arsan Fatrika. Browse to continue with the content “of October or November, during the inauguration, because I was the first period of Mr. Jokowi’s government, in 2014 to 10 from 2015 if I was not wrong. August, sir, sorry,” replied Gobel. “Only about ten months, right?” asked the judge. “10 months,” Gobel replied. Gobel claims that he has never performed sugar import activities while serving as minister of trade. He said he had never imported raw crystal sugar or white sugar. “Was the witness at the time as Minister of Trade in that period, including the import of sugar?” asked the judge. “As I can remember, there was no,” Gobel replied. “Don’t import sugar?” asked the judge. “Nothing, as I remember, sir,” Gobel replied. “In the form of raw sugar or raw crystal sugar or white sugar?” asked the judge. “As far as I know,” Gabel replied. Gobel said that the stock of household sugar was still enough at the time. He did not know if sugar import activities were carried out with the Ministry of Trade until he accepted office. “There is nothing because the household supply for sugar is sufficient or what? Can be explained,” the judge asked. “According to coordination of meetings at the time, domestic sugar was enough,” Gobel replies. “Sugar in the country?” asked the judge. “The stock is more or less enough,” Gobel replies. “Or before, before your term of office as Minister of Trade, have already entered sugar in sufficient quantities so that it is not necessary to enter?” asked the judge. “I didn’t know the time,” Gobel replied. “Or because of national production?” Judge scratched. “Don’t remember, I don’t know, sir,” Gobel replied. The judge also investigated whether Gobel gave a command of sugar input to the private sector. “If there is no sugar input, have you ever been in your term of office, both Bumn and private to import, even though you do not take office?” asked the judge. “As I remember, the command is the right, but coordinated, control,” Gobel replies. “There is but control?” asked the judge. “Because before the fasting month, the price always rises,” Gobel replies. Previously, the prosecutor unveiled the involvement of Tom Lembong in the alleged sugar import case that harmed the state RP 578 billion. It is said that Tom Lembong approves sugar input without going through a coordination meeting with related settings. Tom Lembong was also charged with violating Article 2 paragraph (1) or section 3 in collaboration with section 18 of the Act Number 31 of 1999 regarding the eradication of corruption crimes as amended by Act number 20 of 2001 regarding the legislation of the Act 31 of 1999 regarding the eradication of the corruption crimes in the composition with section 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st of the 1st of the 1st of the 1st. (MIB/WHN) HOEGENG Awards 2025 Read the inspiring story of the exemplary police candidate here