Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has halted the investigation into an alleged nickel mining permit corruption case in Konawe Utara involving former Regent Aswad Sulaiman, with estimated state losses of Rp 2.7 trillion. Former KPK leader Saut Situmorang explained the 2017 suspect designation process, starting from public complaints and backed by State Audit Agency (BPK) calculations. The halt stems from BPK's inability to compute state financial losses.
On October 3, 2017, Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Aswad Sulaiman, former Acting Regent of Konawe Utara for 2007-2009 and Regent for 2011-2016, as a suspect in alleged corruption over mining exploration and exploitation permits, as well as operational production business permits issued by the Konawe Utara Regency Government in Southeast Sulawesi from 2007 to 2014. The case allegedly caused state losses of Rp 2.7 trillion from nickel production sales obtained through unlawful permitting, plus Rp 13 billion in bribes received by Aswad in 2007-2009 from permit-seeking companies.
Saut Situmorang, a KPK leader from 2015-2019, revealed the process began with public complaints subjected to verification and double-checking. "It always starts with public complaints, then deepened, cross-checked, clarified, double-checked, before entering investigation," Saut stated. The escalation involved task forces, directors, deputies, and finally KPK leadership before deciding on investigation. During the probe, KPK calculated losses with BPK's help to avoid conflicts of interest. "So, through deepenings, we arrived at the Rp 2.7 trillion figure. That's accountable calculations," he said.
On November 18, 2021, KPK examined Andi Amran Sulaiman, Director of PT Tiran Indonesia and now Agriculture Minister, as a witness regarding nickel mine ownership. A planned detention of Aswad on September 14, 2023, was canceled as he was rushed to hospital.
On December 26, 2025, KPK issued a discontinuation order (SP3) due to insufficient evidence. Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo affirmed no external intervention. The main hurdle was BPK's inability to compute state losses, as mining management falls outside state finances under Law No. 17 of 2003. The bribery charge is also time-barred under the old Criminal Code. Former KPK leader Laode Muhammad Syarif noted that in 2017, bribery evidence was sufficient, while losses were being calculated by BPK. This halt raises questions about consistency in anti-corruption enforcement.
