Former Ombudsman Chairman Admits to Suffering Eye Stroke During First Hearing
Jakarta - Former Chairman of the Indonesian Ombudsman (ORI) for the 2026 period, Hery Susanto, admitted in court that he has been suffering from an eye stroke for approximately one year. The admission was made during the reading of the indictment at the Corruption Court in Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday. “So, my vision, if people look at me I appear normal, but actually my vision is not normal, it is dark. Due to diabetes,” Hery revealed. The response was to a judge’s question regarding Hery’s condition before the trial commenced. Despite experiencing the eye stroke, Hery was able to undergo the proceedings until completion.
In the alleged corruption case related to nickel mining business governance for the 2021-2026 period, Hery is accused of receiving bribes totalling Rp4.85 billion. The bribes were allegedly received to influence Hery, who at the time was still serving as a Member of the Indonesian Ombudsman for the 2021-2026 period, to manipulate the Ombudsman’s Examination Result Report (LHP). The manipulation was intended to make Hery state in the Ombudsman’s LHP that the determination of the non-tax state revenue (PNBP) payment obligation value for Forest Area Use (PKH) on behalf of PT Thosida Indonesia and PT Dinamika Sejahtera Mandiri by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry was an act of maladministration. Furthermore, it was intended to also state in the LHP that the rejection of the application to upgrade Exploration Mining Business Permits (IUP) to Production Operation IUPs on behalf of PT Mitra Kumala Energi and PT Gold Telen River was an act of maladministration.
In detail, Hery allegedly received bribes from Laode Sinarwan Oda, Director of PT Thosida Indonesia, amounting to Rp675 million through Lukman Malanuang, delivered via Edi Sukandi. He then received Rp200 million from Tjia Peng Tjoan, also known as Peng, Director of PT Dinamika Sejahtera Mandiri, through Lukman Malanuang. From Agung Winarno, he received a house located in Pulo Gebang Permai, Jakarta, valued at Rp2.2 billion; cash amounting to Rp1.2 billion through Edi Sukandi; and Rp525 million. In addition, the public prosecutor stated there was also receipt of money from Muhammad Rozai, a representative of PT Mitra Kumala Energi, through Agung Winarno, amounting to Rp50 million. For his actions, the former ORI Chairman is charged with criminal acts stipulated in Article 12 letter a or Article 12 letter b or Article 5 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001, or Article 606 paragraph (2) of the National Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 2 paragraph (8) appendix 1 number 28 in conjunction with Article VII number 49 of Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustments.