Ariyanto 'Gadun FM' Sentence of 16 Years' Imprisonment Upheld in Judge Bribery Case

The Jakarta High Court (PT DKI) has sentenced Advocate Ariyanto Bakri, familiarly known as ‘Ary Gadun FM’, to 16 years in prison in a case involving the bribery of judges and money laundering (TPPU). This custodial sentence is the same as that handed down by the panel of judges at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) at the Central Jakarta District Court (PN).

“Sentencing the Defendant to 16 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp600,000,000.00, with the provision that if the fine is not paid, the convicted person’s assets shall be seized and auctioned by the Prosecutor to pay the fine, and if insufficient, it shall be replaced by 150 days’ imprisonment,” read the ruling as reported from the Supreme Court (MA) Directory of Decisions on Tuesday (9/6).

Case number 15/PID.SUS-TPK/2026/PT DKI was examined and adjudicated by the chief of the appellate panel, Budi Susilo, with member judges Margareta Yulie Bartin Setyaningsih and Agung Iswanto. The Substitute Registrar was Budiarto. The decision was read out on Monday, 8 June 2026.

Ariyanto was also sentenced to an additional penalty in the form of an obligation to pay restitution amounting to Rp21,602,138,412.00. If this is not paid within one month after the decision obtains permanent legal force, his assets may be seized by the Prosecutor and auctioned to cover the restitution. In the event that he does not have sufficient assets, he shall be sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment.

This additional penalty is heavier than the first-instance court’s decision, where Ariyanto was ordered to pay restitution of Rp16,250,000,000 (Rp16.25 billion), with a subsidiary sentence of 6 years’ imprisonment.

Previously, the Jakarta High Court had already increased the sentence for lawyer Marcella Santoso in the same case of bribing judges and money laundering. Marcella was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp600 million, with a subsidiary sentence of 150 days’ imprisonment. Marcella was also ordered to pay restitution of Rp21.6 billion, with a subsidiary sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment. This restitution amount is higher than the first-instance court’s decision, which only imposed a restitution payment of Rp16.2 billion on Marcella.

The criminal acts also involved other defendants, namely M. Syafei, the former Head of Social Security and License at Wilmar Group, and lawyer Junaedi Saibih. At the first-instance court, the judge stated that M. Syafei was only proven to have committed bribery jointly with Marcella and Ariyanto, while the money laundering charge was not proven. As for defendant Junaedi Saibih, the judge stated that he was not proven to have committed bribery and therefore acquitted him of all charges.

The total bribe for arranging an acquittal in the crude palm oil (CPO) export case was USD 4 million, equivalent to approximately Rp60 billion at the exchange rate when the bribe was given. Marcella and Ariyanto personally enjoyed USD 2 million of the bribe money. The remaining USD 2 million was handed over to the former Chief of the South Jakarta District Court, M Arif Nuryanta, through a junior civil registrar at the North Jakarta District Court. The bribe money then flowed to the panel of judges examining the CPO export case, namely Djuyamto, Agam Syarief Baharuddin, and Ali Muhtarom. This bribe was given to secure an acquittal for the corporate defendants Wilmar Group, Musim Mas Group, and Permata Hijau Group.

Meanwhile, the public prosecutor had previously demanded that Marcella and Ariyanto each be sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment, a fine of Rp600 million with a subsidiary sentence of 150 days’ confinement, and restitution of Rp21.6 billion with a subsidiary sentence of 8 years’ confinement. M Syafei was demanded to be sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, a fine of Rp600 million with a subsidiary sentence of 150 days’ confinement, and restitution of Rp9.33 billion with a subsidiary sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment. Junaedi Saibih was demanded to be sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp600 million with a subsidiary sentence of 150 days’ confinement.