Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  Former Minister of Trade Thomas “Tom” Trikasih Lembong, known as Tom Lembong, was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison on Friday (18/7/2025) after being found guilty of corruption in a sugar import licensing case during his 2015–2016 term.

“The court declares the defendant Tom Lembong legally and convincingly guilty of committing corruption jointly,” said Presiding Judge Dennie Arsan Fatrika at the Jakarta Corruption Court, as quoted by antaranews.com.

Former minister Lembong was also fined Rp 750 million or faced an additional six months’ jail time. The panel of judges considered that he had caused Rp 194.72 billion in state losses. The court found he unlawfully issued raw sugar import permits to 10 companies without inter-ministerial coordination or proper approval. These companies were not authorized to refine raw sugar into white crystal sugar.

The ruling noted the former minister prioritized capitalist interests over public welfare, disregarded legal principles, and bypassed state-owned enterprises in favor of military and police cooperatives.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)