Indonesia wages war on extortion that threatens to derail investor confidence

[JAKARTA] Indonesian police have officially named suspects in a major extortion case that has shaken the country’s investment community to its core, marking a crucial step in the government’s intensified crackdown on thuggery, illegal levies and intimidation targeting businesses.

On Saturday (May 17), the authorities identified three individuals suspected of orchestrating extortion demands linked to the multitrillion-rupiah chlor-alkali plant project in Cilegon, owned by Chandra Alkali, a subsidiary of petrochemical giant Chandra Asri.

Among the suspects are two prominent figures affiliated with the Cilegon branch of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as one from a local fishermen’s association.