Here is the Chronology of the Corruption Scandal in the Ombudsman
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has revealed the chronology of corruption within the Indonesian Ombudsman. The investigation conducted by the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) has provisionally named Ombudsman Chairman Hery Susanto as a suspect. Hery received money amounting to at least Rp 1.5 billion from the mining company PT TSHI related to arranging the obligation for fines over the legal use of land for nickel exploration in Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra).
Director of Investigation at Jampidsus, Syarif Sulaiman Nahdi, explained that Hery was arrested at his residence in Jakarta on Thursday (16/4/2025) in the early hours. “Mr HS has been designated as a suspect in his capacity (currently) as Chairman of the Indonesian Ombudsman for the 2026 to 2031 period. HS has been named a suspect in the criminal act of corruption in the management of nickel mining business activities in Southeast Sulawesi during the 2013-2025 period,” said Syarif on Thursday (16/4/2026).
Syarif explained that the case began with PT TSHI facing administrative sanctions from the Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut). These administrative sanctions were actually included in the calculation of Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) through the Ministry of Forestry.
PT TSHI was dissatisfied with the fine set by the Ministry of Forestry. The company’s objection was rejected by the Ministry of Forestry. Consequently, LD, known as the owner of PT TSHI, made direct contact with Hery in April 2025.
“LD, as the owner of PT TSHI, sought a way out (to avoid the administrative sanction) and thus met with the suspect HS,” said Syarif. At the time of the meeting with LD, Hery was still serving as a commissioner of the Ombudsman for the 2021-2026 period.
Hery was only inaugurated as Chairman of the Ombudsman for the 2026-2031 period on 10 April 2026. In that meeting with LD, Hery promised to assist PT TSHI through his role as an Ombudsman commissioner.
“Namely by conducting an inspection of the Ministry of Forestry as if it originated from a public complaint,” said Syarif. In conducting the inspection of the Ministry of Forestry, Hery, in his role as an Ombudsman member, made arrangements that resulted in the conclusion that the Ministry of Forestry should correct the administrative fine obligation towards PT TSHI.
“The suspect HS arranged it in such a way that the policy taken by the Ministry of Forestry towards PT TSHI, which required payment of the fine, was a mistaken policy,” said Syarif.
Hery, in his role as an Ombudsman commissioner, also issued an Inspection Result Report (LHP) containing a request for the Ministry of Forestry to annul the fine amount against PT TSHI. “And with instructions to PT TSHI to conduct its own calculation regarding the burden to be paid to the state, in this case the Ministry of Forestry,” said Syarif.