Former Ombudsman Chief's Anger at Subordinates Revealed During Unusual Directive
The anger of former Ombudsman chief Hery Susanto was revealed by his subordinates during a court session. Hery was reportedly furious when issuing an unusual directive.
As is known, the indictment hearing against Hery Susanto has been held. Hery is charged with accepting bribes in the form of cash and a house totalling Rp 4.8 billion between 2013 and 2025. Prosecutors stated the bribes were given so that Hery would declare there was maladministration in the calculation of payment obligations for a nickel company set by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).
“Whereas it was known or should have been suspected that the gift or promise was given to induce him to act or not act in his capacity, namely, to induce the Defendant Hery Susanto in his capacity as a member of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia so that in the Ombudsman RI’s Report,” the prosecutor said while reading the indictment at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday (25/6/2026).
The prosecutor stated the bribe was intended for Hery to declare the determination of the non-tax state revenue (PNBP) payment obligation value for PT Tosida Indonesia and PT Dinamika Sejahtera Mandiri by the KLHK as an act of maladministration. The bribe was also aimed at declaring the rejection of the application to upgrade an exploration mining permit (IUP) to a production operation IUP on behalf of PT Mitra Kumala Energi and PT Gold Talenta Nala Raya as an act of maladministration.
The prosecutor then detailed the sources of the Rp 4.8 billion bribe received by Hery. The details are as follows:
From Laode Sinarwan Oda, Director of PT Tosida Indonesia, amounting to Rp 675 million through Lukman Malanuang, delivered via Edi Sugandi.
From Tjia Peng Tjoan, Director of PT Dinamika Sejahtera Mandiri, amounting to Rp 200 million through Lukman Malanuang.
From Agung Winarno, in the form of a house located in Pulo Gebang Permai, East Jakarta, worth Rp 2.2 billion.
From Agung Winarno through Edi Sugandi, amounting to Rp 1.2 billion.
From Agung Winarno, amounting to Rp 525 million.
From Muhammad Rosal, representing PT Mitra Kumala Energi, through Agung Winarno, amounting to Rp 50 million.
In total, the bribes in the form of cash and a house allegedly received by Hery reached Rp 4,850,000,000 (Rp 4.8 billion).
Subordinate’s Testimony
The Head of Main Assistant V at the Ombudsman RI, Irma Syarifah, revealed the intervention carried out by Hery Susanto. Irma stated that Hery was emotional and angry because the initial examination found no maladministration in the report on the payment obligation calculation for the nickel company PT Tosida Indonesia, as determined by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).
“Here you explain that there was a directive from the suspect or the defendant regarding the LHP (examination report), what was the directive like?” the prosecutor asked at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday (2/7).
“Yes, Sir. Firstly, after we conducted a series of examinations with the reported party and the reporting party, it was discovered from the reported party that there was a notarial deed of willingness from PT Tosida to make the PPH payment. Now, based on discussions and documents, that information was only obtained by us from the reported party or the ministry, not from the reporting party,” answered Irma, who was presented as a witness.
“Then, when we received the latest data based on the statement from the reported party or the Ministry of Forestry and we read it as a strong basis that PT Tosida should make the payment because there was already a notarial deed of willingness, we then prepared the LHP closing the report with the conclusion that there was no maladministration,” Irma continued.
The compilers of the LHP concluding there was no maladministration were Irma, Saputra Malik, and Muhammad Khotim. Irma stated that Hery, as the supervisor, then intervened with Khotim regarding the LHP results.
“Regarding the investigator’s question in your BAP (police interview report), you felt that you received pressure or a special tendency from the defendant, how was that? Pressure or a special tendency regarding PT Tosida?” the prosecutor asked.
“Correct. It was not direct to us, Sir. The supervisor did not apply pressure directly, but it was based on the story conveyed by Muhammad Khotim,” Irma answered.
Irma said Khotim told her about the intervention. She stated Hery contacted Khotim in an emotional and angry tone, saying the LHP result of no maladministration was rushed.
“Muhammad Khotim was then called by the supervisor in an emotional tone and was scolded, saying we were too hasty. Too hasty and too shallow and needed to be deepened,” Irma said.
Irma stated Hery also requested the LHP without waiting for the correction results from her. She said Hery provided notes so that the LHP, which found no maladministration, be corrected and investigated further.
“Now, in your opinion, regarding what was conveyed by the defendant, that it was too hasty as told to Khotim, witness Khotim, was it too hasty or was it actually appropriate? As you obtained the deed which ultimately led to the declaration of no maladministration? How was that according to you, in accordance with the SOP and mechanism you explained earlier?” the prosecutor asked.
“Alright. So, when we had compiled the LHP, Khotim actually conveyed it to me and to Saputra Malik for correction. But according to Khotim, the supervisor then immediately contacted him and requested it be handed over directly to him as the supervisor without waiting for corrections from us, from the Karsa (Head of Examination) and from the KAKU (Head of Main Assistant). So it was handed over directly at that time,” Irma answered.
“And in that draft, there were notes from the supervisor, the gist of which, if I’m not mistaken, was to deepen, review, correct. And there was the supervisor’s signature on the initial page of the draft we had made,” she added.
Subordinate Confused by Hery’s Directive
Irma admitted she was initially confused by the directive to correct and re-examine the LHP. She said Hery was angry and reportedly said, ‘Who is the leader? Don’t you tell me what to do, you do it yourself’ when asked for further direction regarding the requested corrections.