Indonesian Ombudsman Chairman Suspect in Nickel Mining Corruption Case

The Indonesian Attorney General's Office (Kejagung) has confirmed that the investigation into alleged corruption involving the Chairman of the Ombudsman RI, Hery Susanto, is not a recent development. Kejagung stated that the probe into alleged gratification related to the issuance of Ombudsman's Investigation Result Reports (LHP) in the nickel mining sector has been ongoing since last year. "It has been since last year," stated Head of the Legal Information Center at the Attorney General's Office, Anang Supriatna. Hery Susanto was named a suspect for allegedly accepting a bribe amounting to Rp1.5 billion from PT Toshida Indonesia. The purpose of this payment was reportedly to influence Hery to issue an LHP that would correct a Ministry of Forestry decision concerning state revenue from non-tax sources (PNBP) for PT Toshida Indonesia. Prior to the announcement of Hery as a suspect on April 16, 2026, investigators had not publicly disclosed the investigation. While the prosecutor's office did search the Ombudsman's office on March 9, 2026, that search was related to another Ombudsman member, Yeka Hendra Fatika, who is suspected of fabricating an LHP concerning cooking oil scarcity. In Hery's case, Kejagung is actively pursuing the individuals who allegedly offered the bribe. Previous statements indicated that the owner of PT Toshida Indonesia, La Ode Sinarwan Oda, had met with Hery, and intermediaries with the initials LO and the Director of PT Toshida Indonesia with the initials LKM followed up on this meeting. From an Indonesian perspective, as reported by Tempo, this case highlights ongoing concerns about integrity within public oversight bodies and the complex web of influence in resource-rich sectors like mining. The public's trust in institutions like the Ombudsman is crucial, and such investigations, while potentially damaging, are necessary to maintain accountability.

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It has been since last year.