Indonesia arrests Wilmar employee linked to palm oil graft case
The announcement came after a string of arrests, including four judges and two lawyers, by the Attorney General's Office, which says the judges took 60 billion rupiah ($3.57 million) to arrange for a favourable verdict against three companies, including Wilmar.
The office said late on Tuesday that the suspect will be held for 20 days in a Jakarta prison.
Wilmar did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrest.
On Monday, Wilmar released a statement saying "investigations so far have not involved Wilmar Group or any of its employees".
A court had last month acquitted three companies - Wilmar Group, Musim Mas Group, and North Sumatra-based Permata Hijau Group - on charges of misconduct in obtaining export permits in 2022.
When the corruption charges were first brought against the companies, prosecutors were seeking fines and payments up to 11 trillion rupiah ($653.4 million).
($1 = 16,835.0000 rupiah)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
13 minutes ago
- Reuters
German tax revenues grow at slower pace in July
BERLIN, Aug 21 (Reuters) - German federal and state tax revenues rose 3% year-on-year in July, a slower rate of increase than the previous month, due in part to a decline in earnings from sales tax, the finance ministry said on Thursday. The total tax take in Europe's biggest economy came to 65.74 billion euros ($76.60 billion) in July, with increases in taxes on income, wages and inheritance, said the ministry in its monthly report. In June, tax revenues had risen more than 7%. In the first seven months of the year, Germany collected some 513.3 billion euros in tax, up 7.4% from the same period in the previous year. Germany's economy contracted in 2024 for the second consecutive year and shrank slightly in the second quarter. Economists expect the export-driven economy to suffer further from U.S. tariffs and mostly predict stagnation for this year. The ministry played down any likely impulses that would boost tax revenues. "Leading indicators do not point to a short-term acceleration of economic activity," said the ministry. ($1 = 0.8582 euros)
Press and Journal
an hour ago
- Press and Journal
Biker faces raft of surgeries for broken hip bones after being 'forced off A87 by driver on wrong side of road'
A motorcyclist has relived the moment he plunged off a Highland road onto rocks to avoid a head-on collision on the A87. Gavin Lawrie was riding near Glen Shiel when he says he was met by a black BMW driving on the wrong side of the road. He had a split second to avoid a crash – with his efforts to evade the car sending him off the road. He has been bedbound since the incident and the ordeal compounds what he describes as a 'hellish' year following the death of his 22-year-old daughter six months ago. Mr Lawrie sustained serious injuries in the accident, suffering several fractures that will require extensive surgery to repair. He told The Press and Journal the car had not stopped – but fortunately there were other road users who came to his aid. The incident took place on the A87, near Glen Shiel, at about 4.30pm on Friday and has been reported to police. Mr Lawrie, from Kingussie, said: 'I had to make a split-second decision. He could hit me head-on, or I could put the throttle down, which is what I did. 'I remember being thrown onto the rocks. 'The car didn't stop, but two bikers did and they called the police and ambulance who arrived quickly.' The retired 58-year-old was taken to Broadford Hospital on Skye, where X-rays revealed two broken bones in his hip. He also has a suspected fracture in his right ankle and is now wearing a moon boot. 'I haven't been able to walk since Friday and I'm currently bedbound,' he said. 'I'm awaiting transfer to Raigmore Hospital, where I'll have a CT scan. They may need to pin my hip socket bone.' Mr Lawrie said if he hadn't been wearing protective clothing and a helmet, he'd been told by paramedics they 'would have been sweeping me off the rocks'. Mr Lawrie has faced many recent struggles, including the loss of his daughter, yet he remains a fighter. He said: 'The main thing is I'm still here. 'I've been through hell and back, but I've come to accept that my daughter's gone. 'My faith is strong, and I believe we will meet again. 'I live to tell the story.' Earlier this summer, police began giving tourists arriving in Scotland wristbands telling them to 'drive on the left' after a series of crashes across the country. The wristbands are the latest tool being used by officers in an attempt to reduce collisions. It has been a particular issue in the Highlands and islands in recent years. Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service have been contacted for a statement regarding the incident. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, curated by Oban-based reporter Louise Glen, for top local stories and community highlights. here.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I took a driverless taxi in LA as tech giants prepare to bring them to UK'
An army of driverless 'robotaxis' is heading for UK shores after taking to the roads in the US - the Mirror's Jeremy Armstrong took one for a spin in Los Angeles An army of 'robotaxis' is heading for Britain next year after taking to the roads in the US. Baidu has partnered its Apollo Go taxi business with Lyft, one of Uber's main rivals. It is said to be planning a self-driving taxi service in the UK and Germany in 2026, with competition from a number of international rivals. The Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle initiative is already testing a self-driving, emissions-free shuttle. It ferries passengers between three sites on public roads, a first for the North east. But driverless taxis have been a common sight in America since 2020, with millions of journeys completed across several different cities. The Mirror did a 'test ride' of the driverless Waymo taxis in LA to see what lies in store for UK road users and passengers. A strange sight greeted me shortly after arrival on US soil. On the way from Los Angeles airport, during the short 20-minute drive to Venice Beach, a Jaguar I-Pace fully electric SUV pulled up next to my vehicle at a traffic light. I spotted the 'Noddy style' hat on the roof straight away, and a woman passenger in the back. There was no driver, and that became a familiar scene on roads across the sprawling metropolis. It is a strange sight for any new arrival from the UK. There remains opposition to the technology, with the US refusing entry to Chinese-based operators in the country from 2027. But California-based Waymo has carried passengers on millions of journeys across America. And this is what lies in store for a road near you soon. My early morning departure from Newcastle meant a conventional taxi journey from a city centre suburb to the airport. My cabbie told me about the rise of Uber; he estimated there were thousands on the roads around the city. Any notion of a chat with the driver disappears when you climb into a Waymo. The first issue to tackle is getting aboard. Handles are retractable and flush with the door until you press the 'unlock the door' in the App (you can also enable automatic door unlocking). As you climb inside, and take your seat, the computer generated female voice asks if you are ready to start your journey. You are reminded to remain in the car unless there is an 'urgent need to exit'. There is then the surreal vision of the steering wheel moving around as if guided by an invisible driver. It reminded me of the 1971 Hollywood classic "Bedknobs and Broomsticks", when inanimate objects are brought to life by magic. My trip (you can take up to three passengers) was taking me through the quiet residential streets of Venice Beach, and a four-lane, mile-long street full of shops, bars, restaurants, and my destination, a coffee shop. You spin through the traffic at a very sedate pace and cross lanes to get in line, waiting at traffic lights to make a turn. There is an arrival time given, very similar to the Uber experience, and a map of the route to the destination. It takes a matter of minutes to download the app, order a cab and get underway. You can follow the arrival of your £130,000 Waymo Jag via your mobile phone, and track the planned route as you travel. It is a very relaxed ride, at a slow and steady pace, once you get used to the sight of the self turning steering wheel. We turn right at a busy junction before making our way to another set of lights for a left turn. This time the tight turn involves the navigation of a busy set of lights and a brief wait to make way, all with the use of satellite technology, sensors, and onboard cameras. We didn't get over 20-25 mph; the ride took a matter of minutes, covered under 2kms and cost $10 (£7.43). Most unusually for LA, they didn't ask for a tip. There is a strict no drink and drugs policy onboard, though how they check on the sobriety of passengers is unclear. There is a reminder to make sure that you have all your belongings as you alight, and then the driverless cab heads off for its next passenger. The key question is whether you would feel safe on an LA Freeway, UK motorway or navigating a bustling London street? That may be the key test for driverless passengers in the UK next year.
