Formerly Won in Pre-Trial, This KPK Suspect Dies in China
The Director of PT Loco Montrado, Siman Bahar (SB), a suspect in the alleged corruption case of metal anode processing, has passed away. Siman died while still a suspect of the KPK, despite having previously won a pre-trial case.
According to detikcom’s reporting on Tuesday (14/4/2026), the case implicating Siman Bahar was first announced by the KPK to the public in October 2021. At that time, the KPK announced it was investigating the alleged corruption related to the cooperation for metal anode processing between PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) Tbk and PT Loco Montrado in 2017.
The KPK initially did not announce Siman Bahar as a suspect in this case. Siman Bahar’s suspect status became known to the public when he filed a pre-trial lawsuit at the South Jakarta District Court on 27 October 2021. Siman Bahar requested that his suspect status be declared invalid.
“Accept and grant the pre-trial petition of the petitioner in full,” as quoted from the excerpt of his petition from the Case Search Information System (SIPP) of the South Jakarta District Court, Thursday (14/10/2021).
Siman Bahar also requested that the judge declare the investigation letter and SPDP related to his case invalid.
“Declare null and void all decisions or determinations issued subsequently by the respondent concerning the suspect designation against the petitioner,” he stated.
South Jakarta District Court Accepts Part of Siman Bahar’s Lawsuit Against KPK
The court then accepted part of Siman Bahar’s lawsuit. In its decision, the judge annulled the suspect status against Siman Bahar.
“Grant the pre-trial petition of the petitioner in part; Declare the suspect designation against the petitioner by the respondent based on Investigation Order Number: Sprin.Dik/40/DIK.00/01/08/2021 dated 19 August 2021 jointly with the Notification of Commencement of Investigation (SPDP) dated 23 August 2021 invalid and without legal force; Charge the case costs to the State in the amount of nil; Reject the petitioner’s request for the rest,” the pre-trial decision stated.
The KPK did not give up easily after Siman Bahar won the pre-trial. The KPK immediately reviewed issuing a new investigation order in the metal anode corruption case.
“The pre-trial process only tests formal requirements. So it does not at all annul the substantive matter of the case itself. So it’s certainly just a technical issue, improving the investigation order letter, improving the administration that was lacking,” said the KPK’s Head of Public Information at the time, Ali Fikri, on 3 February 2023.
Ali said the investigators had calculated the state losses related to Siman Bahar’s case. A number of pieces of evidence and witness statements had been collected by the investigators for the case.
Siman Bahar Becomes Suspect Again
Four months later, the KPK announced that Siman Bahar had once again become a suspect in the metal anode corruption case. The KPK emphasised that Siman Bahar’s pre-trial victory did not annul the corruption evidence held by the KPK.
“The KPK investigation team continues to complete and perfect its evidence. There is already a suspect, namely the party serving as Director of PT LM,” said KPK’s Head of Public Information Ali Fikri in his statement to reporters on 5 June 2023.
The KPK then seized Rp 100 billion from Siman Bahar. The money was suspected to have been obtained by Siman from the metal anode corruption.
“The KPK conducted the seizure of cash amounting to Rp 100.7 billion related to the alleged criminal corruption case in the metal anode processing cooperation between PT Antam and PT Loco Montrado in 2017,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters on 5 August 2025.
Reported to Have Died in China
In the development of the investigation process in this case, the KPK once revealed Siman Bahar’s health condition. The KPK said Siman was still under treatment and required oxygen standby when examined.
“We have requested a second opinion from the IDI that the person in question can indeed be examined. But there are many clauses. It has to be every 15 minutes or so. Examined for 15 minutes then stop. Not for a long time. Then oxygen must be available and so on,” said Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, at the KPK, Jakarta, on 6 August 2025.
In the latest statement given on 13 April 2026, the KPK revealed that Siman Bahar has passed away. There is information that Siman died while receiving treatment in China.
“Because we are trying to update first why he could go to China, but the information of death as of today we can confirm, we just need the administration,” said Acting Director of Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein.
The KPK said it will issue an SP3 after Siman Bahar dies. The investigation of the metal anode case with suspect Siman Bahar will be dropped by law.
“So certainly, this is by law, if the suspect dies, SP3 is definite, but we need the administration, that’s what we are checking. Then for the case itself, if it’s Article 2, we will certainly use the state attorney, when there is a definite real state loss, we will coordinate with the Attorney General,” Achmad explained.