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Straits Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Wilmar Group hands over $928 million in Indonesia palm oil graft case
Indonesian prosecutors are appealing a court ruling that had cleared Wilmar and two other palm oil companies of accusation of paying bribes to obtain export permits in 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS JAKARTA - Food company Wilmar Group said on June 17 it had handed over 11.8 trillion rupiah (S$928 million) to Indonesia's Attorney General's Office as a 'security deposit' in relation to a case in court about alleged misconduct in obtaining palm oil export permits. Indonesian prosecutors are appealing a court ruling that had cleared Wilmar and two other palm oil companies of accusation of paying bribes to obtain the permits in 2022. Prosecutors had demanded 11.8 trillion rupiah in fines from Wilmar. Wilmar said the money would be returned if Indonesia's Supreme Court cleared the company of wrongdoing in the ongoing case, but would be forfeited in part or in full if the court found against the company. Wilmar said its actions in the palm oil export permit case were done 'in compliance with prevailing regulations' and 'were free from any corrupt intent'. A senior official at the Attorney General's Office, Sutikno, spoke about the case at a press conference in which authorities were surrounded by stacks of cash amounting to 2 trillion rupiah. 'Wilmar paid for the state losses they caused,' he said. In April, the Attorney General's Office arrested judges who acquitted the companies of misconduct in obtaining export permits, saying the judges received 60 billion rupiah to reach a verdict in their favour. The Attorney General's Office arrested an employee of Wilmar in connection with the case in April. The company said it was assisting with the investigations. Shares of the group's Singapore-listed entity, Wilmar International, closed down 0.3 per cent, or one cent, at $3.01 on June 17. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.


CNA
17-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Indonesia seizes US$725 million from Wilmar Group in palm oil graft case
JAKARTA: Indonesia's Attorney General's Office said on Tuesday (Jun 17) it had seized 11.8 trillion rupiah (US$725 million) from food company Wilmar Group that it said was related to corruption in obtaining palm oil export permits. Indonesian authorities are probing Wilmar and two other palm oil companies, which they accuse of paying bribes to obtain export permits in 2022. Prosecutors had demanded 11.8 trillion rupiah in fines from Wilmar. Wilmar and its subsidiaries returned 11.8 trillion rupiah to the Attorney General's Office and authorities seized the money as part of their legal case against the company, said the office's senior official Sutikno. "Wilmar paid for the state losses they caused," he said at a press conference in which authorities were surrounded by stacks of cash amounting to 2 trillion rupiah. Wilmar did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In April, the Attorney General's Office arrested judges who acquitted the companies of misconduct in obtaining export permits, saying the judges received 60 billion rupiah to reach a verdict in their favour.


CNA
17-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Indonesia seizes $725 million from Wilmar Group in palm oil graft case
JAKARTA :Indonesia's Attorney General's Office said on Tuesday it had seized 11.8 trillion rupiah ($725 million) from food company Wilmar Group that it said was related to corruption in obtaining palm oil export permits. Indonesian authorities are probing Wilmar and two other palm oil companies, which they accuse of paying bribes to obtain export permits in 2022. Prosecutors had demanded 11.8 trillion rupiah in fines from Wilmar. Wilmar and its subsidiaries returned 11.8 trillion rupiah to the Attorney General's Office and authorities seized the money as part of their legal case against the company, said the office's senior official Sutikno. "Wilmar paid for the state losses they caused," he said at a press conference in which authorities were surrounded by stacks of cash amounting to 2 trillion rupiah. Wilmar did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In April, the Attorney General's Office arrested judges who acquitted the companies of misconduct in obtaining export permits, saying the judges received 60 billion rupiah to reach a verdict in their favour. The Attorney General's Office arrested an employee of Wilmar in connection with the case in April. The company said it was assisting with the investigations. ($1 = 16,283 rupiah)