Ethics Committee to rule on Hery Susanto's status next week

The Ethics Committee of the Indonesian Ombudsman will soon decide the fate of Chairman Hery Susanto over alleged ethical violations following his involvement in a nickel mining management bribery case. The decision is targeted to be completed next week and immediately presented to the plenary session.

“On Thursday, we will again summon the former chairman and vice-chairman. By next Thursday, the decision should be ready, then we’ll report to the plenary and hold a press conference,” said Jimly Asshiddiqie at Al-Azhar Grand Mosque on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.

Jimly noted that legal processes could take years if waiting for a final court ruling. Therefore, the Ethics Committee is expediting the process to preserve public trust in the Ombudsman.

“If we wait for a final court ruling, it could take three to four years. That would erode public trust in the Ombudsman, which critically depends on credibility,” he said.

The Ethics Committee has also sought testimony from Ombudsman internal staff, assistants, and coordinated with Commission II of the House of Representatives. It has met with the Attorney General and the Special Prosecutor’s Office to monitor the legal case against Hery Susanto, though it stressed it would not interfere in criminal proceedings.

“Ethics proceedings are not about punishing ethical violations but maintaining the institution’s authority and public trust,” Jimly explained.

According to Jimly, resolving the matter through ethics mechanisms is crucial to uphold the Ombudsman’s standing, as its officials must adhere to higher ethical standards than other institutions due to their role in overseeing public services and state officials’ conduct.

“Do not appoint public officials lightly, as this concerns a trust mandate. Do not let political squabbles dictate decisions. This is a lesson,” he concluded.

The Ethics Committee’s decision will be a binding recommendation for the Ombudsman plenary to determine Hery Susanto’s status.

Previously, the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) named Hery Susanto, Chairman of the Indonesian Ombudsman for 2026-2031, as a suspect in a corruption case involving nickel mining management from 2013 to 2025.

Hery is alleged to have received a Rp1.5 billion bribe from PT TSHI, which stemmed from disputes over non-tax state revenue (PNBP) calculations by the Ministry of Forestry.