DPR Plenary Session Approves Replacement of ORI Member Hery Susanto

The plenary session of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) has approved the appointment of an interim replacement (PAW) for a member of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia (ORI), replacing Hery Susanto, who has been named a suspect in an alleged corruption case.

DPR Speaker Puan Maharani, chairing the session, stated that the DPR had received the letter of appointment for the PAW of the ORI member for the remainder of the 2026–2031 term from Commission II of the DPR on 20 July 2026.

“Therefore, we request the approval of the factions. Can the appointment of the interim replacement Ombudsman member for the 2026–2031 term be approved?” she asked at the DPR building in Jakarta on Tuesday, to which the members responded with “agreed”.

Puan explained that the results of the selection and appointment of the PAW had been conveyed by Commission II during a consultation meeting replacing the Deliberative Body (Bamus) meeting on Monday (20/7). However, the DPR has not yet announced the name of the approved PAW ORI member to the public.

When met after the session, Deputy Speaker of the DPR Saan Mustopa explained that the PAW selection mechanism was based on the order of candidates from the fit and proper test ratified in the plenary session on 27 January 2026. “It is just the order. If there are nine Ombudsman members, the next in line [automatically becomes the PAW member],” he said.

It is known that former ORI Chair Hery Susanto was dishonourably discharged by the ethics council on 8 June 2026. He was named a suspect in a bribery case related to nickel mining governance for the 2021–2026 period. Hery Susanto is currently facing legal proceedings, with his case being tried by a panel of judges at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court.