Facing 17-Year Prison Sentence in Cooking Oil Case, Ariyanto Claims: Someone Wants to Destroy Indonesia
Defendant lawyer Ariyanto Bakri, accused of bribery related to the acquittal verdict in the cooking oil case and money laundering, has been demanded a 17-year prison sentence by prosecutors. Ariyanto stated that the prosecution’s demands did not correspond with the legal facts presented at trial.
“Very well, the proposed sentence for me is 17 years. I am convinced that there are individuals or institutions with the intention of destroying Indonesia. Because none of this corresponds with the legal facts,” said Ariyanto Bakri after the sentencing hearing at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday (18/2/2026).
Ariyanto admitted guilt in bribing judges. However, he maintained that what the prosecutors presented did not align with the actual legal facts.
“Firstly, I acknowledge my wrongdoing. I acknowledge my wrongdoing — I engaged in bribery — but the legal facts are not as the prosecutors have presented them,” he said.
17-Year Prison Demand
Ariyanto Bakri faces a 17-year prison demand. Prosecutors are convinced that Ariyanto was guilty of bribing the panel of judges in connection with the acquittal verdict and of committing money laundering.
“We demand that the panel of judges sentence the defendant Ariyanto to 17 years’ imprisonment, reduced in full by the period already served in detention, with an order that the defendant remain in custody,” said the prosecutor whilst reading the indictment at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday (18/2).
Ariyanto was also demanded to pay a fine of Rp 600 million, with a subsidiary penalty of 150 days’ imprisonment in default. Prosecutors further demanded that Ariyanto pay restitution of Rp 21.6 billion, with a subsidiary penalty of eight years’ imprisonment in default.
Prosecutors stated that Ariyanto’s actions undermined the government’s programme for clean governance free from corruption, collusion, and nepotism. His actions were also deemed to have damaged public trust, particularly in the judicial institution.
Prosecutors said Ariyanto’s conduct had disgraced the dignity of the legal profession. Furthermore, as the bribe-giver, Ariyanto had enjoyed the proceeds of his criminal bribery and had been evasive in providing testimony.
Prosecutors also demanded Ariyanto’s permanent disbarment from the legal profession. They are convinced Ariyanto violated Article 6 paragraph 1 letter (a) in conjunction with Article 18 of the Anti-Corruption Law, in conjunction with Article 20 letter (a) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, and Article 607 paragraph 1 letter (a) in conjunction with Article 20 letter (a) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.
“We order the bar association to permanently disbar the defendant Ariyanto from practising as a lawyer,” said the prosecutor.
In this case, Ariyanto Bakri is charged with paying Rp 40 billion in bribes to judges together with three other defendants — Marcella Santoso, Juanedi Saibih, and M Syafei — acting as representatives of the Wilmar Group, Permata Hijau Group, and Musim Mas Group corporations. Prosecutors have also charged Marcella, Ariyanto, and M Syafei with money laundering.