InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - Three corporations accused of illegal crude palm oil (CPO) exports, which led to a cooking oil shortage, are facing heavy demands from the Public Prosecutor (JPU). In addition to being required to pay a total of Rp 17.7 trillion in restitution, these companies are also being demanded to shut down their operations.
The demands were presented by the JPU during a trial held at the Jakarta Corruption Court on February 17, 2025.
According to InfoSAWIT from detikcom, the three companies involved are PT Wilmar Group, PT Permata Hijau Group, and PT Musim Mas Group. Each company is being demanded to pay different amounts in restitution, corresponding to the alleged illegal profits they gained.
Demands Against Wilmar Group
PT Wilmar Group, which consists of five subsidiaries, is demanded to pay Rp 11.8 trillion in restitution and a fine of Rp 1 billion. If they fail to pay within one month, corporate assets will be seized and auctioned. If that is still insufficient, the prosecutor has stated they will seize the personal assets of Tenang Parulian Sembiring, the director representing the five companies, who could face 12 months of imprisonment.
Additionally, the JPU demands that all or part of Wilmar Group's operations be shut down for one year as an additional penalty for the violations committed.
Permata Hijau Group and Musim Mas Group Also Face Heavy Penalties
PT Permata Hijau Group, which consists of five subsidiaries, is demanded to pay Rp 937.5 billion in restitution and a fine of Rp 1 billion. If they cannot pay within one month, corporate assets will be seized and auctioned, with further consequences for the controlling director, David Virgo, who could face 12 months of imprisonment. This company also faces the threat of closure for one year.
Meanwhile, PT Musim Mas Group, which consists of seven companies, is demanded to pay Rp 4.8 trillion in restitution and a fine of Rp 1 billion. If they cannot pay, the personal assets of the company's controllers may be seized and auctioned. Five company controllers, including Gunawan Siregar and Rudi Krisnajaya, could face 11 months of imprisonment if the seized assets are insufficient. Musim Mas Group is also demanded to be closed for one year.
Background of the CPO Export Case
This case began amid a cooking oil shortage in the market. The prosecution then uncovered allegations of manipulation in CPO exports that caused cooking oil prices to soar. In the developments of this case, five individuals have been convicted, including the former Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Indra Sari Wisnu Wardhana, along with several executives from the involved companies.
The prosecutor alleges that these three companies collectively enriched themselves or their corporations with illegal profits amounting to trillions of rupiah. Wilmar Group is accused of obtaining illegal profits of Rp 1.6 trillion, while Musim Mas Group and Permata Hijau Group are each accused of obtaining profits of Rp 626.6 billion and causing economic losses to the state amounting to trillions of rupiah.
This case is still ongoing in court, with the final verdict set to determine the future operations of these three major corporations in Indonesia's palm oil industry. (T2)
