DPR Appoints Replacement Ombudsman Member for Hery Susanto

The 26th Plenary Session of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) for the fifth sitting period has appointed a replacement Ombudsman member to succeed Hery Susanto, who was implicated in a corruption case concerning nickel mining governance in Southeast Sulawesi for the 2013-2025 period. The appointment session referred to a letter from the leadership of DPR Commission II, Number B-39613, dated 20 July 2026, regarding the appointment of an interim replacement member of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2026-2031 term. “Therefore, we request the approval of the factions: can the appointment of the interim replacement member of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2026-2031 term be approved?” said Speaker of the DPR Puan Maharani, who chaired the session, on Tuesday (21/7). However, the session did not reveal the identity of Hery’s replacement. When met after the session, Deputy Speaker of the DPR Saan Mustopa also admitted he did not know the new name that would fill one of the nine positions on the list of Ombudsman member candidates. “There should be a name already. It’s just a sequence. So later it’s just the sequence. There are nine Ombudsman members,” Saan said. According to the regulations, based on the results of the fit and proper test, in addition to appointing nine Ombudsman members for the 2026-2031 period, the DPR also designated ten other names prepared as replacements. They are, in order, Wahidah Suaib, Radian Syam, I Gusti Ngurah Agung Yuliarta Endrawan, Muhammad Nurkhoiron, Nazir Salim Manik, Faisal Amir, AH Maftuchan, Dian Rubianty, and Asnifriyanti Damanik. Thus, in accordance with the provisions, Wahidah Suaib is Hery’s replacement. “Yes, it’s automatically a promotion. So it’s just direct,” Saan said.