Tom Lembong: ban on imported white crystal sugar, not raw crystal sugar

Jakarta – Former Minister of Trade (Mendag) Thomas Trikasih Lembong Alias ​​Tom Lembong said the import of raw crystal sugar (GKM) was not prohibited during the harvest season. Tom said the import ban was carried out on White Crystal Sugar (GKP). It was transferred by Tom Lembong when he responded to the testimony of the Chairman of the Indonesian People’s Sugarcane Farmers Association (APTRI) Sooemitro Samadiken and the former Deputy Food and Agricultural Coordinations at the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, Musdalifah. Both were presented by the prosecutor as witnesses in the alleged corruption case in the import of sugar, defendant Tom. “Your honor, I must argue or deny again, that the ban on sugar imports during the harvest season or the free season only applies to the import of white sugar, not to import raw sugar,” Tom Lembong said at Central Jakarta Corruption Court, Tuesday (10/6/2025). Browse to continue with the content Tom said that the ban was only valid in 2004 and was recalled in 2015. He said the import ban in 2015 was GKP not GKM, while the ban on all sugar imports in 2016 was no longer valid. “Secondly, in 2004, the ban only applied by the Minister of Industry and Trade 527, and it was revoked in December 2015 by issuing the permendag 117, which no longer loaded the import of any sugar into the free season or the harvesting season of sugarcane farmers. coordination meeting with related settings.