The Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court sentenced former Minister of Trade Thomas Trikasih Lembong, aka Tom Lembong, on Friday, July 18, 2025 to four years and six months in prison after declaring him guilty of corruption related to Indonesia’s sugar import policy.

The panel of judges concluded that Lembong’s actions contradicted statutory regulations and ultimately caused financial harm to the state, although he was not found to have personally profited.

“The court finds the defendant guilty of corruption in the sugar import case. His actions, while not for personal enrichment, were in violation of existing laws and contributed to state losses,” the presiding judge said.

While Lembong was not ordered to pay compensation as the court acknowledged he had gained no personal financial benefit, the sentence was weighed by other factors.

In their considerations, judges noted that Lembong’s economic approach while in office prioritized capitalist principles over the values of Pancasila, Indonesia’s state ideology. This was listed as a major aggravating factor in the sentencing.

However, the court also acknowledged several mitigating circumstances, including Lembong’s clean legal record,his cooperative attitude during trial proceedings, his respectful behavior in court, and the absence of personal gain.

The ruling adds a significant chapter to the legacy of Lembong, a prominent figure in Indonesia’s economic and reformist circles who served under President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

Once praised for championing market liberalization and foreign investment, Lembong’s policies particularly around sugar import have now been legally discredited.

The court found that his ministerial decisions on sugar import allocations contravened national regulations and failed to uphold transparency and fair competition.

The sentencing of a high-profile figure like Lembong underscores the growing judicial scrutiny over economic policymaking, particularly where state interests and market forces intersect.

Testimony of Rini Soemarno

In a notable development, the court also rejected testimony from former State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, whose statement had been submitted by prosecutors. The judges ruled her excuse of attending a family event in Java as “invalid,” thus dismissing her input entirely from the legal record.

As of publication, Lembong and his legal team have not announced whether they will appeal the verdict. The Attorney General’s Office also has yet to confirm whether it will seek a heavier sentence.