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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Economy & Trade

KPK Issues Termination of Investigation for Suspect in Antam-Loco Montrado Graft Case Following Death

From Tempo · (9m ago) Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) issued a termination of investigation (SP3) for suspect Bong Kin Phin alias Siman Bahar in a graft case involving PT Aneka Tambang Tbk and PT Loco Montrado.
  • The SP3 was issued after the KPK received Siman Bahar's death certificate, with the investigation now focusing on PT Loco Montrado as a corporate suspect.
  • Siman Bahar, owner of PT Loco Montrado, had previously been declared a suspect twice, with the first designation overturned by a pretrial motion.

Tempo reports on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) issuing a termination of investigation (SP3) for Siman Bahar, a key suspect in a corruption case involving the processing of metal anodes between PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam) and PT Loco Montrado. The SP3 was issued on April 23, 2026, following confirmation of Siman Bahar's death in China on April 5, 2026.

SP3 has also been delivered to the family.

— Budi PrasetyoKPK Spokesperson confirming the issuance of the termination of investigation.

This development shifts the focus of the investigation. While Siman Bahar's case is closed due to his passing, the KPK emphasizes that the broader corruption case remains active. The investigation will now concentrate on PT Loco Montrado as a corporate suspect, with the KPK having already seized over Rp100 billion as part of asset recovery efforts.

Siman Bahar's history with the KPK is notable. He was first declared a suspect in August 2021 but successfully challenged this status through a pretrial motion, with the court ruling that the KPK had not met the minimum evidentiary requirements. He was later named a suspect again in May 2023. Throughout these proceedings, he was never detained due to health issues, with the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) confirming he suffered from serious illness.

Investigators have seized more than Rp100 billion as part of asset recovery efforts.

— Budi PrasetyoKPK Spokesperson on the ongoing efforts in the corruption case.

The case involves alleged enrichment through a cooperation agreement for processing 'dore' (gold-bearing material) between Antam and PT Loco Montrado. The KPK alleges that Siman Bahar deviated from the agreement, processing the material abroad and exchanging it for his company's gold reserves, resulting in a lower yield than expected. From an Indonesian perspective, this case highlights the complexities of prosecuting corruption, especially when suspects are powerful business figures or face significant health challenges. The KPK's continued pursuit of corporate liability and asset recovery demonstrates its resolve to combat corruption, even when individual cases reach an end.

Yes, Mr. Siman has passed away.

— Erick Samuel PaatLawyer confirming the death of Siman Bahar.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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