Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Hendry Lie, the co-founder of Indonesia’s Sriwijaya Air, has been named a suspect in a massive corruption case involving the trade of tin ore from PT Timah’s mining permits between 2015 and 2022. Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office (AGO) confirmed the charges on Monday, November 18, shortly after Lie returned from Singapore and was detained at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
According to AGO spokesperson Harli Siregar, Lie’s arrest marks a significant development in a case that has already implicated 22 individuals. “The suspect Hendry Lie was apprehended at Soekarno-Hatta Airport after his arrival from Singapore,” said Siregar, as reported by CNN Indonesia.
The Rise of a Business Tycoon
Before facing legal troubles, Hendry Lie was widely known for his entrepreneurial success. Along with his partners, Chandra Lie, Johannes Bunjamin, and Andy Halim, Hendry co-founded Sriwijaya Air in the early 2000s. Starting with a single Boeing 737-200, the airline rapidly expanded to become one of Indonesia’s largest carriers, boasting a fleet of 48 Boeing aircraft and operating 53 domestic and regional routes.
Under Hendry’s leadership, Sriwijaya Air achieved remarkable milestones, transporting nearly 950,000 passengers monthly across Indonesia and neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore.
In addition to his ventures in aviation, Lie ventured into mining, where he co-owned PT TIN. This company would later place him at the center of a corruption scandal involving illegal tin mining operations.
A $19 Billion Corruption Case
The corruption case centers on allegations that PT TIN, under Hendry Lie’s ownership, signed illegal contracts to collect and sell tin ore. The AGO estimates the scheme caused state losses of nearly IDR 300 trillion (approximately $19 billion).
One key transaction involved RL, a general manager at PT TIN who is also a suspect in the case. Investigators have accused the company of operating outside legal parameters and exploiting tin resources from PT Timah’s mining permits.
Sriwijaya Air Executive Hendry Lie Arrested in $19 Billion Tin Corruption Scandal
Legal and Economic Implications
Hendry Lie is one of several high-profile figures implicated in the case, which highlights systemic corruption in Indonesia’s mining sector. The scandal is expected to have significant legal and economic repercussions, as Indonesia is one of the world’s leading tin producers.
As the investigation unfolds, Hendry Lie’s fall from grace serves as a stark reminder of how business and corruption can intersect in Southeast Asia’s largest economy. For now, the spotlight remains on the scope of Lie’s involvement and the broader implications of the case for Indonesia’s tin mining industry.
(Becky)
