Indonesia’s Sriwijaya Air Co-Founder Arrested Amid Corruption Investigation
Hendry Lie, co-founder of Sriwijaya Air (SJ,), was arrested by officials from Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office on November 18, 2024, after he ignored two previous summons related to a corruption investigation. Lie was escorted through Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport in handcuffs after arriving on a flight from Singapore Changi.
Lie is being questioned in connection with a broader corruption investigation involving state-owned metal producer PT Timah. Beyond his role with Sriwijaya Air, Lie is a beneficiary owner of PT Tinindo Internusa, a smelting company that allegedly processed tin ore illegally extracted from a Timah concession over several years, generating an estimated IDR 1 trillion (USD 63 million) in illicit profits. He and Tinindo Internusa are part of a much larger corruption probe that is said to have cost the Indonesian state approximately IDR 271 trillion (USD 17.1 billion).
Despite attempts by authorities to detain Lie, including an earlier summons, his return from Singapore had been delayed due to medical reasons, according to Indonesian news sources. While Lie was absent, authorities seized a holiday home valued at IDR 20 billion (USD 1.3 million), registered in his wife’s name.
Lie’s disregard for earlier summons has led to the Attorney General’s Office confirming that anyone failing to comply would be detained. Local media reports indicate that Lie is now likely to face charges under Indonesia’s corruption laws and criminal code.
Sriwijaya Air, founded in 2003 by the Lie family, began its operations with a single B737-200. It has since grown to operate nine aircraft, including five B737-500s and four B737-800s, flying to eighteen airports across Indonesia.
This arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into corruption surrounding PT Timah and its affiliates, underscoring the government’s commitment to tackling large-scale corruption in state-owned enterprises.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com