The defendant in the alleged corruption case involving the sale of aluminum alloy by PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum), Dante Sinaga, expressed disappointment over the interlocutory decision of the Corruption Court Panel at the Medan District Court, which declared the objection or exception he filed as inadmissible.

The disappointment primarily concerns the lack of consideration regarding the issue of tempus delicti, or the time frame of the alleged crime, which was a key point of objection in the exception submitted by his legal team.

The interlocutory decision was read out by the Panel of Judges, chaired by A’sad Rahim Lubis, in the Cakra Utama Room of the Medan District Court, Wednesday (June 3, 2026).

Through his legal counsel, Kasmin Sidauruk, SH MH, Dante Sinaga stated that his team considers the indictment from the public prosecutor (JPU) to be inaccurate because it includes a time frame for the alleged crime from 2018 to 2024, while his client only served until April 2020 and entered retirement in July of the same year.

“We are very disappointed. Because what we raised in the exception was not about the main case, but rather the inaccuracy of the indictment, including the tempus delicti, which we believe is unclear,” said Kasmin after the hearing.

According to him, the objection regarding the time frame in the indictment is a fundamental issue that should have received attention in the interlocutory decision.

“Our client served from 2018 to April 2020. However, the indictment mentions a time frame for the events up to 2024. That is what we are questioning, and we believe it was not considered by the panel of judges in the interlocutory decision,” he said.

In addition to the tempus delicti issue, the legal team also believes that several other legal arguments, including a Constitutional Court decision deemed relevant to the case, were not addressed in the panel’s considerations.

Kasmin explained that the panel of judges held that the various objections raised by the legal team had entered into the main case and would therefore be examined and considered further during the evidentiary phase.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that the panel did not reject the exception filed, but rather declared it inadmissible.

“This is not rejected, but inadmissible. That means, according to the panel of judges, the matters we raised will be reconsidered after the examination of witnesses, experts, and evidence in the main case,” he said.

His team confirmed that they will present various pieces of evidence at the next hearing, including documents related to Dante Sinaga’s tenure while serving as Senior Executive Vice President of Business Development at PT Inalum.

“We will present various evidence, including the decree or SK showing our client’s term of office. We will prove that in court,” said Kasmin.

Additionally, they will also submit evidence and arguments regarding the alleged losses mentioned in the case. According to Kasmin, there are still ongoing billing and bankruptcy processes, so the aspect of losses as charged still needs to be further proven.

“This issue is still related to the billing and bankruptcy process. Therefore, we will prove everything in court,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dante Sinaga emphasized that his main objection from the start concerns the accusations that, according to him, occurred after he was no longer serving at PT Inalum.

“All the accusations made outside my term of office, that is my objection,” said Dante.

He believes the prosecutor’s indictment is inaccurate because it links him to the time frame of the alleged crime up to 2024, even though he stopped serving in April 2020.

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In this case, the prosecutor has charged four defendants: Dante Sinaga as Senior Executive Vice President of Business Development at PT Inalum in 2019, Djoko Sutrisno as President Director of PT PASU, Oggy Achmad Kosasih as Managing Director of PT Inalum for the 2019-2021 period, and Joko Susilo as Head of the Sales

Medan Corruption Court

The Medan Corruption Court is a specialized judicial body in Medan, Indonesia, established to handle corruption cases, particularly those involving public officials. It was created as part of Indonesia’s broader anti-corruption reforms following the fall of Suharto in 1998, aiming to improve legal accountability. The court has gained attention for trying high-profile cases, though it has also faced criticism over its effectiveness and occasional controversies.

Medan District Court

The Medan District Court is a historic judicial institution located in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Established during the Dutch colonial era, its building reflects the architectural style of that period and has served as a key venue for legal proceedings in the region for over a century. Today, it continues to function as a primary court handling civil and criminal cases in the area.

Cakra Utama Room

The Cakra Utama Room is a significant ceremonial hall located within the Yogyakarta Palace (Keraton) in Indonesia. Historically, it served as the primary audience hall for the Sultan, where he would hold official state functions, receive dignitaries, and conduct important royal ceremonies. The room is richly decorated with traditional Javanese architecture and symbolism, reflecting the cultural and spiritual authority of the Yogyakarta Sultanate.

PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum)

PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) is a state-owned aluminum smelting company in Indonesia, established in 1976. It operates the Kuala Tanjung smelter in North Sumatra, which was built through a joint venture with Japan and began production in 1982. Inalum plays a key role in Indonesia’s industrial development, and in 2013, the Indonesian government fully acquired the company’s shares, making it a wholly state-owned enterprise.

PT PASU

PT PASU is a company based in Indonesia, primarily involved in the agricultural sector, focusing on the production and distribution of high-quality palm oil products. The company operates with a commitment to sustainable practices, contributing to the local economy and community development. While not a cultural or historical site, PT PASU represents modern industrial development in Indonesia’s agribusiness landscape.

Constitutional Court

The Constitutional Court of South Africa, located in Johannesburg, is the highest court in the country for constitutional matters. Established in 1994 after the end of apartheid, it was built on the site of the Old Fort prison, where political prisoners like Nelson Mandela were once held. The court symbolizes the transition from oppression to democracy, and its building incorporates bricks from the former prison to honor that history.