Journal of Law and Social Politics
Vol. 4 No. 3 (2026): Journal of Law and Social Politics

Business Decisions or Corruption? The Business Judgment Rule in Decision 68/2025

Sahat Parlindungan Simarmata (Universitas Pelita Harapan)



Article Info

Publish Date
06 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background: On 20 November 2025, the Anti-Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court delivered Decision Number 68/Pid.Sus-TPK/2025/PN Jkt.Pst, convicting three former directors of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) of corruption arising from a business cooperation arrangement and the acquisition of PT Jembatan Nusantara (2019–2022), with state losses set at IDR 1.25 trillion. Objective: This study examines the juridical construction of the Business Judgment Rule (BJR) in the majority and dissenting opinions of Decision Number 68/Pid.Sus-TPK/2025/PN Jkt.Pst and formulates operational parameters distinguishing BJR-protected business decisions from corruption offenses under Law Number 1 of 2025. Methods: This study applies a normative juridical method that integrates statutory, case-based, and conceptual approaches to distinguish business decisions sheltered by the BJR from corruption offenses under Law Number 1 of 2025 on SOEs. Results: The majority panel held that the BJR is subject to the cumulative thresholds of Article 97(5) of the Company Law and Article 9F of the 2025 SOE Law; gross negligence (culpa lata) removes BJR protection. The dissent found no mens rea, disputed the state-loss calculation, and treated IDR 11.2 billion in due diligence as evidence of compliance. From this divergence, five cumulative parameters emerge: decision quality, degree of negligence, integrity of approval documents, character of loss, and presence of fraud or conflict of interest. Conclusion: This study offers a theoretical contribution to BJR doctrine in SOE corruption jurisprudence and provide a practical guide for Corruption Court panels in distinguishing legitimate business risk from criminal liability of SOE directors.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jlsp

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Library & Information Science Social Sciences

Description

The Journal Of Law and Social Politic provides a means for ongoing discussion of relevant issues that fall within the focus and scope of the journal that can be examined empirically. The Journal Of Law and Social Politic will publish scientific articles in the fields of education, including ...