Attorney General Seizes Documents and Electronic Devices from Ombudsman Office
The investigation team from the Attorney General’s Special Crimes Division (JAM-Pidsus) has moved swiftly in investigating allegations of obstruction of justice in crude palm oil (CPO) export cases. From a search of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia’s office on Monday 9 March, investigators seized a number of documents and electronic devices.
Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, Director of Investigation at JAM-Pidsus, confirmed the results of the search in an official statement. “There were documents and electronic evidence,” Syarief said in a written statement on Tuesday 10 March.
The seizure represents a crucial step in examining corporate involvement in the obstruction of justice case. Although the Attorney General has secured evidence, the prosecution continues to withhold details of the seized documents’ contents for the benefit of advancing the investigation.
Based on gathered information, the search targeted the office of one of the Ombudsman’s commissioners. In addition to the public oversight agency’s office, investigators also conducted searches at other locations on the same day. “It’s correct (there were other locations searched), if I’m not mistaken (in) Cibubur,” Syarief said.
This series of raids indicates the seriousness of the Prosecutor’s Office in fully investigating anyone attempting to obstruct law enforcement in the crude palm oil export scandal, which had previously shaken domestic market stability.
The Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia stated that its report regarding the Jimbaran land dispute has been completed in accordance with institutional procedures. The documents also include in-depth studies on waste management in Sorong city and handling of persons with mental illness.
The Attorney General has also conducted dozens of searches at locations in Riau and Medan regarding alleged corruption in CPO exports and its derivatives for the 2022–2024 period, seizing land assets, palm oil factories, and heavy machinery.
Additionally, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) seized Rp5 billion from a raid in Ciputat related to bribery and gratification cases involving counterfeit goods imports at the Customs and Excise Directorate General. The KPK also searched the offices and official residences of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Depok District Court in relation to a land dispute bribery case, seizing documents and USD50,000.
Searches also occurred at the Central Customs and Excise office, with the total amount of money seized still being calculated. Official vehicles examined included the official car of Madiun City Secretary Soeko Dwi Hardianto and that of the Head of the General Division of Madiun City.