Corporate Representative for Cooking Oil Firms Faces 15-Year Prison Sentence in Judge Bribery Case

The corporate representative of the Wilmar Group, Permata Hijau Group, and Musim Mas Group, M Syafei, has been sentenced to a demand of 15 years’ imprisonment. Prosecutors are convinced that Syafei is guilty of jointly bribing a judge in connection with an acquittal verdict in a cooking oil case, as well as committing money laundering.

“[We request the panel of judges] to impose a prison sentence of 15 years on the defendant M Syafei,” said the prosecutor whilst reading the indictment at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday (18 February 2026).

Prosecutors demanded that Syafei pay a fine of Rp 600 million, with a subsidiary penalty of 150 days’ imprisonment in lieu of payment. They also demanded that Syafei pay Rp 9,333,333,333 (Rp 9.3 billion) in restitution, with a subsidiary penalty of five years’ imprisonment.

“The defendant is required to pay restitution of Rp 9,333,333,333,” said the prosecutor.

“In the event that the defendant no longer possesses sufficient assets to pay the restitution, the defendant shall be sentenced to five years’ imprisonment,” the prosecutor added.

Prosecutors stated that Syafei’s actions undermined the government’s programme for clean governance free from corruption, collusion, and nepotism. Furthermore, his conduct had eroded public trust, particularly in the judicial institution.

Prosecutors assessed that Syafei’s actions also violated the judicial code of ethics, which requires judges to act fairly, honestly, impartially, professionally, and with dignity. As the bribe-giver, Syafei had enjoyed the proceeds of the bribery offence.

“Mitigating factors include that the defendant has no prior convictions and has conducted himself courteously during the trial,” said the prosecutor.

Prosecutors are convinced that M Syafei violated Article 6, paragraph 1, letter (a), in conjunction with Article 18 of the Anti-Corruption Law, in conjunction with Article 20, letter (c) of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, and Article 607, paragraph 1, letter (a) of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.

In this case, M Syafei, as a corporate representative of the Wilmar Group, Permata Hijau Group, and Musim Mas Group, is charged with jointly paying Rp 40 billion in bribes to a judge, together with three other defendants: Ariyanto, Juanedi Saibih, and Marcella Santoso. Prosecutors have also charged Marcella, Ariyanto, and M Syafei with money laundering.