Ex-Ombudsman Chief's Words When Asking for Money: 'Is There Any Attention for This?'

Prosecutors have disclosed the words of former Ombudsman Chairman Hery Susanto when he allegedly requested money from PT Tosida Indonesia. Hery is accused of asking for money to declare maladministration in the determination of non-tax state revenue (PNBP) payment obligations for a Forest Utilisation Permit (PKH) issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).

This was revealed in Hery’s indictment read by prosecutors at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday, 25 June 2026. Prosecutors stated that Laode Sinarwan Oda, Director of PT Tosida Indonesia (PT TI), knew Lukman Malanuang as a mining and environmental consultant. Laode asked Lukman for assistance in reducing PT TI’s PNBP obligations through the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia. Laode stated he would provide Rp 1.5 billion to handle the matter.

Prosecutors said Lukman then met Hery, who was serving as an Ombudsman member for mining affairs. Lukman conveyed Laode’s request to Hery. ‘After that, Lukman Malanuang met with the defendant Hery Susanto, who served as an Ombudsman member for mining affairs, bringing a complaint report numbered 19 February 2025, regarding a request for a recalculation of PNBP payment obligations for PT TI’s forest area use to the Director General of Planology,’ the prosecutor stated.

During the meeting, Hery asked Lukman if the request ‘had any attention’. Lukman replied that PT TI would provide Rp 700 million for the arrangement. ‘The defendant Hery Susanto asked, “Is there any attention for this or not?” and Lukman Malanuang answered, “PT TI will provide around Rp 700 million for the arrangement,” to which the defendant replied, “I will give it attention,”’ the prosecutor said.

Hery then followed up on Lukman’s request to issue the maladministration report. Prosecutors stated that the determination of the PNBP PKH payment obligations for PT Tosida Indonesia by KLHK, which initially found no maladministration, was ultimately changed to a finding of maladministration. ‘The defendant Hery ordered the team to re-clarify with the intention that the LHP conclusion would contain a finding of maladministration as requested by the director of PT TI,’ the prosecutor said.

For the issuance of the maladministration report, prosecutors said Laode gave Rp 1.5 billion to Lukman. Subsequently, Lukman gave Rp 875 million to Hery through his younger sibling, Edi Sugandi. ‘After that, on the orders of defendant Hery Susanto, Lukman Malanuang handed over the money in stages totalling Rp 875 million to Edi Sugandi, who is the defendant’s younger sibling,’ the prosecutor stated.

Prosecutors said the total bribe received by Hery Susanto amounted to Rp 4.8 billion. The bribe was intended to ensure Hery declared the determination of PNBP PKH payment obligations for PT Tosida Indonesia and PT Dinamika Sejahtera Mandiri by KLHK as maladministration. The bribe was also intended to ensure the rejection of an application to upgrade an exploration mining business permit (IUP) to a production operation IUP for PT Mitra Kumala Energi and PT Gold Talenta Nala Raya was declared maladministration.

Details of the Rp 4.8 billion bribe received by Hery are as follows: Rp 675 million from Laode Sinarwan Oda, Director of PT Tosida Indonesia, through Lukman Malanuang and Edi Sugandi; Rp 200 million from Tjia Peng Tjoan, Director of PT Dinamika Sejahtera Mandiri, through Lukman Malanuang; a house in Pulo Gebang Permai, East Jakarta, worth Rp 2.2 billion from Agung Winarno; Rp 1.2 billion from Agung Winarno through Edi Sugandi; Rp 525 million from Agung Winarno; and Rp 50 million from Muhammad Rosal, a representative of PT Mitra Kumala Energi, through Agung Winarno.