When Tom Lembong imported the sugar, the income of the sugarcane farmers were reduced

Tuesday, June 10, 2025 – 23:27 Wib

Yakarta, Viva – The president of the Association of Farmers of the Sugar Caña de Indonesia Sugar (APRRI) Soemitro Samadikoen became one of the witnesses presented in the trial of alleged corruption in the importation of raw crystal sugar, with the accused of the former Minister of Commerce (Mendag) of the Republic of Indonesia Thomas Trikasih Lembong alias Tom Lembongg. Soemitro said that sugarcane crops were reduced when Tom Lembong had imported raw crystal sugar.

SOEMITRO was presented as a witness at the trial of Tom Lembong in the Corruption Court of the Central District Court of Yakarta, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The prosecutor began asking the witnesses about the impact that the farmers felt when Tom Lembong imported glass sugar.

“Previously sir, related to the lack of GKP (white glass sugar) yes, white glass sugar. There is a government solution that imports raw crystal sugar. That has an impact on these sugarcane farmers in the field, sir?” The prosecutor asked in the courtroom.

“On the one hand, if sugar is missing, it is actually for the fulfillment of consumers, it is also necessary to import, Lord. But the import must be the ideal to take into account according to the needs and time is correct when necessary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hlfxe3ky28

The witness explained that if the ingredients make sugar can be completed for a year. Then, the following year, sugar ingredients are not necessarily fulfilled.

“If there is excessive import, we only count, for example, what is the 2014 stock. At the end of 2014, we do not remember, but there must be a residual production action. Then our 2014 production exists, if I am not mistaken, 2014 is RP 2,500,000, 2015 RP 2,490,000. Is that with the stock of the last year or not?” Saemitro said.

“If it is quite possible, it is necessary for the beginning of next year. Previously, Mus Mus transmitted that this calculation could not be cut into pieces, but also H+ must also be taken into account. Therefore, from there it is necessary to import the policy for compliance. But the number is once again that we do not participate in the determination,” he continued.

After that, the prosecutor asked about the impact of sugarcane prices when there was a new policy. Soemitro said that if there are import problems, sugarcane prices will weaken.

“Previously, he explained that when there was import, the government was not communication. When the industry had not imported raw crystal sugar in the country, the industry did not absorb the supply of the farmers’ sugar industry. The impact was so, sir?” The prosecutor asked.

“If the import is generally molded, if the absorption has been organized by a sugar factory, if that is ground the sugar factory for consumption,” said Soemitro.

“As for the price, sir? There is an import problem, for example, does it have an impact on the price below?” Cecar prosecutor.

“That’s right, sir, so if the price really decides with the decree of the Minister of Commerce if I am not mistaken at that time from year to year. And the price we get because the HPP actually is determined the lowest tolerance price,” said the witness.

“And, the auction of farmers prior to 66% profits are owned by farmers. This is auctioned directly to farmers by inviting merchants for free auctions. Now, usually, if there are imports, it is not necessarily, not necessarily lacking or quite appropriate, the problem of imports will only weaken the price,” continued the soybeans.

Somitro said that farmers’ income would decrease when there was a policy that declared the issue of sugar import.

“Is it harmful to farmers?” The prosecutor asked.

“Yes, what is clear is that our income is reduced and we have to calculate because the COGs (cost of farmers) are actually taken from the average. Farmers are less fortunate, there must be a higher HPP,” Somitro explained.

Previously, the prosecutor accused Tom Lembong having damaged the state of RP578 billion related to the alleged corruption of sugar imports in the Ministry of Commerce in 2015-2016.

The public prosecutor read him the accusation against Tom Lembong of the Office of the Attorney General in the Central Court of Corruption of Yakarta (corruption), Thursday, March 6, 2025.

“The state financial loss is RP578,105,411,622.47 based on the report on the results of the audit of the calculation of state financial losses in the alleged criminal acts of corruption in the import activities of sugar in the Ministry of Commerce in 2015 to 2016,” said the prosecutor when he reads the indication in the court.

The prosecutor said that Tom was supposedly enriched with 10 corporate officials who damaged the state of RP515,408,740,970.36.

For his actions, Tom Lembong was accused of violating paragraph 2 of article 2 (1) or article 3 together with article 18 of the Corruption Eradication Law (Corruption Law) together with article 55 Paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.