DPR Keeps Identity of Newly Approved Ombudsman Replacement Secret
The House of Representatives (DPR) Plenary Session on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, agreed to the appointment of an interim replacement for Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia member Herry Susanto for the 2026-2031 period. While presiding over the process, DPR Speaker Puan Maharani did not disclose the identity of the former Ombudsman chairman’s successor.
“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 the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician on Tuesday.
Puan stated that the appointment of the Ombudsman replacement was based on a decision by House Commission II, which held a meeting on 20 July 2026. The Commission II leadership subsequently sent a letter numbered B/39613 regarding the appointment of the interim replacement Ombudsman member for the 2026-2031 period.
Deputy Speakers Sufmi Dasco Ahmad and Saan Mustopa were unable to confirm who the reserve member appointed to replace Herry was. According to Saan, the Ombudsman member would be selected based on the ranking order from the fit and proper test conducted by Commission II.
Based on the fit and proper test results from January 2026, election activist Wahidah Suaib was ranked first as a reserve Ombudsman member, followed by Radian Syam. However, Saan admitted he would first check who was at the top of the list. “That is just the ranking. If there are nine Ombudsman members, then the next one down is automatically it,” said the NasDem Party politician at the DPR complex in Jakarta after the plenary session.
Tempo also sought confirmation on the identity of the new Ombudsman member from Commission II. Deputy Chairmen of Commission II, Bahtra Banong and Zulfikar Arse Sadikin, were reluctant to confirm whether Wahidah Suaib was the one selected. According to Bahtra, the appointment of the interim replacement is not necessarily based on the selection ranking because the rules are not stipulated in Law Number 37 of 2008 concerning the Ombudsman. “Regarding the Ombudsman interim replacement, the law does not regulate the subsequent ranking order,” said the Gerindra Party spokesperson.
Herry Susanto was arrested a week after being inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto as Chairman of the Ombudsman for the 2026–2031 period. He took his oath of office on 10 April 2026. The Attorney General’s Office named Herry a suspect in an alleged corruption case related to nickel mining business governance in Southeast Sulawesi from 2013 to 2025. He allegedly received Rp 1.5 billion to ensure the Ombudsman issued an Examination Report correcting a Ministry of Forestry decision regarding non-tax state revenue calculations for PT Toshida Indonesia.