Former Ombudsman Chairman Hery Susanto Charged with Accepting Rp4.8 Billion in Bribes

Former Indonesian Ombudsman Chairman Hery Susanto has been charged with accepting bribes amounting to Rp4.8 billion in exchange for using his authority in contravention of prevailing regulations. The indictment was read by the Public Prosecutor from the Attorney General’s Office during the inaugural hearing at the Corruption Court in Central Jakarta on Thursday (25/6).

“He received gifts or promises, in the form of money and goods,” the prosecutor stated while reading the indictment at the Jakarta Corruption Court. The prosecutor noted that the bribe money originated from PT Toshida Indonesia and PT Dinamika Sejahtera Mandiri.

The bribes were allegedly given to persuade Hery to declare that the Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s determination of the Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) payment obligations for both companies constituted an act of maladministration. Another objective of the bribe was for Hery to rule that the rejection of applications to upgrade Exploration Mining Business Permits (IUP) to Production Operation IUPs for PT Mitra Kumala Energi and PT Gold Talenta Nala Raya was an act of maladministration.

“Even though he knew or should have suspected that the gifts or promises were given to influence him to act or refrain from acting in his official capacity,” the prosecutor added. There were at least six instances of bribe acceptance by Hery. These included Rp675 million from La Ode Sinarwan Oda, Director of PT Toshida Indonesia, which was given to Lukman Malanuang and then passed on through Edi Sugandi.

Another payment of Rp200 million came from Tjia Peng Tjoan, also known as Peng, Director of PT Dinamika Sejahtera Mandiri, again received via Lukman Malanuang. Further bribes from Agung Winarno included a house in Pulo Gebang Permai Blok D5 Number 10, Cakung, East Jakarta, valued at Rp2.2 billion, as well as cash payments of Rp1 billion and Rp200 million delivered through Edi Sugandi. Agung Winarno also provided an additional Rp525 million, and Muhammad Rosal, representing PT Mitra Kumala Energi, gave Rp50 million through Agung Winarno. The total value of bribes and the house received by Hery amounted to Rp4.85 billion.

Hery’s actions are deemed to violate Article 5, points 4 and 6 of Law Number 28 of 1999 concerning Clean State Administration Free from Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism. The charges also contravene several articles of Law Number 37 of 2008 on the Indonesian Ombudsman, the Ombudsman’s Code of Ethics, and the Chairman’s Regulation on Technical Guidelines for Document and Substance Examination.