Former Ombudsman Chairman Stands Trial in Nickel Corruption Case

The first trial hearing for defendant Hery Susanto was held on Thursday at the Corruption Court in Central Jakarta. Hery Susanto, who served as Chairman of the Ombudsman for the 2026 period, is facing charges of corruption in the governance of nickel mining operations.

Juru Bicara PN Jakpus Andri Saputra confirmed to reporters that the initial hearing for the defendant had commenced. According to the Case Tracking Information System of the Central Jakarta District Court, the session’s agenda included the verification of the defendant’s identity and the reading of the indictment. The hearing was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time in the Wirjono Projodikoro 1 courtroom, presided over by Chief Judge Dwi Elyarahma Sulistyowati.

Director of Investigations at the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, stated that the alleged criminal acts occurred during Hery Susanto’s tenure as a member of the Republic of Indonesia Ombudsman for the 2021-2026 period. Hery is suspected of receiving bribes from several mining companies in exchange for issuing Ombudsman Examination Result Reports or Analysis Reports.

He is also alleged to have received Rp200 million from Tjia Peng Tjoan, also known as Peng, the Director of PT Dinamika Sejahtera Mandiri. Another alleged receipt was a house located at Ruko Gebang Permai Blok D5 Number 10, Pulo Gebang Village, Cakung District, East Jakarta, valued at Rp2.2 billion, from Agung Winarno. Furthermore, Hery allegedly received Rp1 billion through Edi Sukandi, Rp525 million from Agung Winarno, and Rp50 million from Muhammad Rozai, a representative of PT Mitra Kemala Energi, also through Agung Winarno. Agung Winarno is a suspect in a money laundering case linked to convicted criminal Zarof Ricar.