Indonesia & Corruption: a few articles in the past few weeks

[jstar]

After the Bandung Zoo corruption case last year which involved two key administrators -sentenced to seven years in prison in October 2025 for causing IDR 25 billion in state losses- there is a new case but now with the zoo of Surabaya.

Former Surabaya Zoo president director Choirul Anwar was arrested and detained by the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office for an IDR 10.2 billion corruption scheme. He allegedly embezzled animal feed and operational funds for personal use between 2016 and 2024, severely harming animal welfare.

He created fictitious financial reports, cut daily animal food budgets and created fake expense records. The result was neglected, weak and starving animals and poorly maintained facilities.

 

[harryopal1]

Today watched a German documentary about food courier services through much of Europe. The pattern is for the big companies to sub contract to a range of smaller companies which underpay, employees and misuse them in a variety of ways. Many of the underpaid are Indian students, legitimately in various countries and trying to help cover living costs by working as couriers. Where odd strikes have taken place there have been Mafia like tactics used including bashing of protesters. As a German Minister for Labour said, some of these big companies are making big profits but governments have not regulated against sub contractors. There continue to be spectacular cases of corruption in Indonesia but corruption is certainly not unique to this archipelago.

 

[pantaiema]

Today watched a German documentary about food courier services through much of Europe. The pattern is for the big companies to sub contract to a range of smaller companies which underpay, employees and misuse them in a variety of ways. Many of the underpaid are Indian students, legitimately in various countries and trying to help cover living costs by working as couriers. Where odd strikes have taken place there have been Mafia like tactics used including bashing of protesters. As a German Minister for Labour said, some of these big companies are making big profits but governments have not regulated against sub contractors. There continue to be spectacular cases of corruption in Indonesia but corruption is certainly not unique to this archipelago.

Germany's national minimum wage is €12.82 per hour, and it is illegal for employers to pay workers less than this amount. Labour rights are also strongly protected in Germany.

I haven't watched the documentary, but situations like this typically occur when people enter the country illegally and work in the underground economy, or when international students work more hours than their visa permits.

If a company is caught employing someone who is not legally authorised to work, it can face substantial fines and other penalties. In some cases, unscrupulous employers might want to hire illegal immigrants and attempt to offset the risks of being caught by paying them less than they are legally entitled to. It is also worth noting that people working illegally often do not pay income tax, and employers may also evade paying the required social security contributions.

 

[harryopal1]

Germany's national minimum wage is €12.82 per hour, and it is illegal for employers to pay workers less than this amount. Labour rights are also strongly protected in Germany.

I haven't watched the documentary, but situations like this typically occur when people enter the country illegally and work in the underground economy, or when international students work more hours than their visa permits.

If a company is caught employing someone who is not legally authorised to work, it can face substantial fines and other penalties. In some cases, unscrupulous employers might want to hire illegal immigrants and attempt to offset the risks of being caught by paying them less than they are legally entitled to. It is also worth noting that people working illegally often do not pay income tax, and employers may also evade paying the required social security contributions.

Yes, all of that is true but the focus in this documentary was that students were not working illegally but that both students and others were not being paid properly and with consequences for those who did try and stand up for their rights.

 

[pantaiema]

Yes, all of that is true but the focus in this documentary was that students were not working illegally but that both students and others were not being paid properly and with consequences for those who did try and stand up for their rights.

There will always be a few employers who pay below the minimum wage. However, when these cases make the news, it's usually because they are the exception rather than the norm. It's also encouraging to see that workers who have been treated unfairly are taking legal action to enforce their rights.

However, if someone is legally employed and has the right to work, I find it hard to believe that underpaying workers is a widespread practice in a country like Germany, where labour rights are strongly protected and employment laws are strictly enforced.

Would you mind sharing the link to that news article?

 

[harryopal1]

There will always be some employers who pay below the minimum wage. However, when these cases make the news, it's usually because they are the exception rather than the norm. It's also encouraging to see that workers who have been treated unfairly are taking legal action to enforce their rights.

However, if someone is legally employed and has the right to work, I find it hard to believe that underpaying workers is a widespread practice in a country like Germany, where labour rights are strongly protected and employment laws are strictly enforced.

Would you mind sharing the link to that news article?

 

[harryopal1]

There will always be a few employers who pay below the minimum wage. However, when these cases make the news, it's usually because they are the exception rather than the norm. It's also encouraging to see that workers who have been treated unfairly are taking legal action to enforce their rights.

However, if someone is legally employed and has the right to work, I find it hard to believe that underpaying workers is a widespread practice in a country like Germany, where labour rights are strongly protected and employment laws are strictly enforced.

Would you mind sharing the link to that news article?

This was not a news or website story on line. It was a DW television program. I did a search and was able to find a link that should enable you to watch the program.

Delivered! - The Courier Driver Business

In many German cities, bicycle couriers deliver burgers, pizza, and other food to people's homes. Thousands of these riders come from India, lured by the promise of studying in Germany, and have incurred heavy debts.

www.dw.com

 

[pantaiema]

This was not a news or website story on line. It was a DW television program. I did a search and was able to find a link that should enable you to watch the program.

Delivered! - The Courier Driver Business

In many German cities, bicycle couriers deliver burgers, pizza, and other food to people's homes. Thousands of these riders come from India, lured by the promise of studying in Germany, and have incurred heavy debts.

www.dw.com

So what I said previously is proven to be correct.
"There will always be a few employers who pay below the minimum wage. However, when these cases make the news, it's usually because they are the exception rather than the norm." Let alone it happens in the country like Germany.

This is the food, grocery, parcels, courier driver business. This is not a regular job where you get the contract based on the hours. In this industry people are self-employed and they are getting commission per delivery not paid by the hours.

Also this is about sub contracting to third parties where a person like courier Shivani Sharma are getting commission. When he sued Wolt (or Uber Eats) over €3,500 in unpaid wages, the court ruled Wolt was not responsible because her official contract was with a subcontractor named IMOX Investigation reveals that IMOX's is not a regular business. The listed CEO was actually an impoverished, unwitting frontman living in an allotment garden in Poznań, Poland, who had no knowledge of running a German delivery company.

Sub-minimum, illegal wage pay is practically unheard in mainstream German industries, including auto manufacturing, steel industries, tech giants like Siemens, Bosch, SAP, major grocery chains (ALDI, LIDL, Edeka), and pharmacies.

 

[harryopal1]

So what I said previously is proven to be correct.
"There will always be a few employers who pay below the minimum wage. However, when these cases make the news, it's usually because they are the exception rather than the norm." Let alone it happens in the country like Germany.

This is the food, grocery, parcels, courier driver business. This is not a regular job where you get the contract based on the hours. In this industry people are self-employed and they are getting commission per delivery not paid by the hours.

Also this is about sub contracting to third parties where a person like courier Shivani Sharma are getting commission. When he sued Wolt (or Uber Eats) over €3,500 in unpaid wages, the court ruled Wolt was not responsible because her official contract was with a subcontractor named IMOX Investigation reveals that IMOX's is not a regular business. The listed CEO was actually an impoverished, unwitting frontman living in an allotment garden in Poznań, Poland, who had no knowledge of running a German delivery company.

Sub-minimum, illegal wage pay is practically unheard in mainstream German industries, including auto manufacturing, steel industries, tech giants like Siemens, Bosch, SAP, major grocery chains (ALDI, LIDL, Edeka), and pharmacies.

There is a perception that Germany ranks well regarding levels of corruption but it is not corruption free with serious corruption perhaps better managed by those acting illegally as this article suggests.

What lies beneath: Germany’s hidden organized corruption threat

In February 2021, 16 tonnes of cocaine were seized in Hamburg – Europe’s largest cocaine seizure to date. Since then, there have been numerous other seizures at Europe’s third-largest seaport, as the flow of cocaine into Germany continues unabated. But the 2021 case has grabbed the headlines...

globalinitiative.net

 

[pantaiema]

There is a perception that Germany ranks well regarding levels of corruption but it is not corruption free with serious corruption perhaps better managed by those acting illegally as this article suggests.

What lies beneath: Germany’s hidden organized corruption threat

In February 2021, 16 tonnes of cocaine were seized in Hamburg – Europe’s largest cocaine seizure to date. Since then, there have been numerous other seizures at Europe’s third-largest seaport, as the flow of cocaine into Germany continues unabated. But the 2021 case has grabbed the headlines...

globalinitiative.net

In Germany, even sex workers and escort services are legally recognised professions and therefore are well protected. Sex workers typically work as self-employed individuals work for themselves, paying taxes gaining access to standard benefits like public healthcare and pensions

Have you been to one of the FKK / Sauna clubs, ? It is mainly in DE but it also exists in other German-speaking regions such as AT, CH if you have been there you will understand what I mean.

But it does not mean they are free from bad people, traffickers who abuse the system and exploited them. I doubt if any single institution in this entire world could eliminate this practice.

 

[pantaiema]

Examining Former OJK and BEI Officials Named Suspects in the PT DSI Fraud Case.

OJK (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan), Indonesia's Financial Services Authority, is supposed to be an independent regulator responsible for supervising and protecting the country's financial sector, including banks, capital markets, insurance, and digital assets. Simlarly to BEI (Indonesia Stock Exchange) officials, it was supposed to ensure fair, orderly, and efficient trading in the Indoensian Stock Excgange.

If officials from these very institution that is meant to police the financial industry become involved in misconduct, it inevitably raises questions about regulatory integrity and investor confidence. It also does not appear to be an isolated incident, as a number of senior OJK officials have reportedly been implicated in corruption or other misconduct over the years.

It is also fair to question how effective the agency has been in carrying out its regulatory responsibilities. By comparison, financial regulators in some other jurisdictions, the FSA regularly conduct investigations into financial misconduct and have imposed substantial financial penalties on firms that breach regulations, sometimes amounting to hundreds of millions of USD. In contrast, despite numerous big corruption and financial misconduct cases, emerging in Indonesia's financial sector,you have rarely seen OJK impose similarly significant enforcement actions or financial penalties. This naturally raises concerns about the effectiveness and consistency of its regulatory enforcement.

 

[Balifrog]

One of the consequences of "money is the most important thing in life" mentality, inbred in all Asian societies...

 

[jstar]

But what‘s the alternative? Religion is the most important thing in life? I’d prefer some healthy capitalism then.

 

[Balifrog]

But what‘s the alternative? Religion is the most important thing in life? I’d prefer some healthy capitalism then.

Forget about religion, only restricts your freedom and makes life complicated.
Having fun and having enough money to pay for it, good enough for me.
And a job that you enjoy of course !

 

[Balifrog]

A never ending saga....

https://jakartaglobe.id/news/pemalang-regent-becomes-12th-regional-leader-arrested-by-kpk-this-year

 

[pantaiema]

Those who against the death penalty for heavy corruption in Indonesia, especially those international NGOs who do not understand the reality in the ground for the country like Indonesia; They should watch this real episode happen in Baturiti, Tabanan, Bali. This is not an isolated incident. Similar cases have occurred multiple times across Indonesia, where people have been subjected to severe punishment, often killed by the mob for stealing relatively low-value items such as chickens, motorcycles, or other petty property.

Chicken thief killed by mob, his little daughter cries hysterically when father's body arrives at funeral home.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbSfY7vyFm_/
Warning: This clip on the instagram might be too emotional for some people to watch

Compare that with the case of Deputy Chief of the State Prosecutor Febrie Ardiansyah who were detained for Corruption and Money Laundry allegation. It was reported nearly half a trillion rupiah of cash and 74 kg of gold bars, were found in the properties linked to him, yet he was not even handcuffed and wear the orange detainee vest during his arrest. Eager to watch the next episode of this sage.

DETIK-DETIK Febrie Adriansyah Jalan Tak Pakai Rompi dan Borgol di KPK❗

Download aplikasi berita TribunX di Play Store atau App Store untuk dapatkan pengalaman baruTRIBUN-MEDAN.COM - Mantan Jaksa Agung Muda Tindak Pidana Khusus (...

www.youtube.com

Ironi Hukum di Indonesia, Pencuri Ayam di Bali Tewas Dikeroyok Massa Sementara Tersangka Korupsi Tetap Terkawal

stiestekom.ac.id

The father (KD) of this little girl was almost certainly the family's breadwinner and may have resorted to stealing simply to provide for his family's basic needs. In contrast, the children of people such as Febrie Ardiansyah (If convicted) or other major corruption suspects in Indonesia may inherit enough wealth to support several generations.

It is also not uncommon for those convicted of large-scale corruption to serve only a fraction of their prison sentences, sometimes as little as one-third. There have also been longstanding public concerns that some well-connected inmates receive preferential treatment, allowing them to spend much of their sentence under conditions that are far less restrictive such as spent on their own home, than those faced by ordinary prisoners.

Unlike many developing countries, Indonesia is richly endowed with natural resources, including oil and gas, minerals, forests, marine resources, and vast areas of fertile agricultural land. It is the large-scale corruption has deprived many Indonesians of the benefits of this wealth. As a result, people like KD, the father of this little girl, may feel driven to steal simply to provide for their family's basic needs, with some ultimately becoming victims of mob.

Is this justice ????

 

[pantaiema]

One of the consequences of "money is the most important thing in life" mentality, inbred in all Asian societies...

Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Bhutan, and Taiwan are all Asian countries. They consistently rank among the least corrupt places in the world, outperforming many European countries in international corruption rankings based on CPI (Corruption Perception Index)

Corruption Perceptions Index 2025

The Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ranks 182 countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. Find out the scores and read our analysis.

www.transparency.org