In the Story of the Ministry of Manpower Extortion Case, the Defendant Testifies Until the Judge Says 'Up to You'
The trial for the extortion case involving occupational safety and health (K3) certificates at the Ministry of Manpower continues to unfold. There was a moment when the judge said “up to you” while the defendant was testifying.
As is known, this extortion case involves 11 defendants. They are as follows:
Former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer or Noel
Fahrurozi, Director General of Occupational Safety Supervision and K3 in March 2025
Hery Sutanto, Director of Institutional Development from 2021 to February 2025
Subhan, Subcoordinator for Occupational Safety in the Directorate of K3 Development from 2020-2025
Gerry Aditya Herwanto Putra, Coordinator for Testing and Evaluation of Occupational Safety Competency from 2022
Irvian Bobby Mahendro, Coordinator for K3 Institutions and Personnel from 2022-2025
Sekarsari Kartika Putri, Subcoordinator for K3 Institutional Development at the Directorate General of Occupational Safety Supervision and K3
Anitasari Kusumawati, Subcoordinator for Partnerships and Occupational Health Personnel from 2020
Supriadi, Young Expert Manpower Supervisor as Subcoordinator for K3 Personnel Empowerment at the Directorate General of Occupational Safety Supervision and K3
Miki Mahfud, from PT KEM Indonesia
Temurila, from PT KEM Indonesia
In the indictment, the prosecutor stated that the defendants forced certification and K3 licence applicants to provide a total of Rp 6,522,360,000 (Rp 6.5 billion). This case occurred since 2021 or before Noel served as Deputy Minister of Manpower.
Receiving Extortion Share of Rp 20 Million/Month
One of the defendants, Fahrurozi, admitted to receiving a share of Rp 20 million per month after being appointed as acting Director General. Fahrurozi said the money was a thank you from Occupational Safety and Health Service Companies (PJK3).
This was stated by Fahrurozi when examined as a defendant at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday (7/5/2026). Fahrurozi was the Director General of Occupational Safety Supervision and K3 in March 2025.
Initially, Fahrurozi said he received money from Hery Sutanto, Director of Institutional Development from 2021 to February 2025. He admitted to receiving regular money amounting to Rp 20 million per month.
“So this is every month, right, Sir?” asked the prosecutor.
“It seems like it, Sir,” replied Fahrurozi.
Fahrurozi said the total money he received amounted to Rp 100 million. The money was received by Fahrurozi after he was appointed as acting Director General at the Ministry of Manpower.
“So this is every month after you were appointed as acting Director General, you received it from Mr Hery Sutanto. Total Rp 100 million?” asked the prosecutor.
“Correct,” replied Fahrurozi.
Claim of Thank You Money
Fahrurozi reasoned that at the time he did not know if the money was thank you money from PJK3. He claimed he only found out when he asked Hery in October 2024.
“And this is thank you money from PJK3 at that time?” asked the prosecutor.
“At the time of giving, I did not know. But after I asked Mr Hery in October, that’s when I knew, it became clear that it was thank you money from PJK3,” replied Fahrurozi.
“When did you ask?” asked the prosecutor.
“October 2024,” replied Fahrurozi.
Admits No Extortion, Judge Says Up to You
Fahrurozi admitted regretting receiving the money. The money was received by Fahrurozi after he was appointed as acting Director General at the Ministry of Manpower.
“So you regret it related to receiving that, after I clarified it turned out to be true that the money was,” said Fahrurozi.
The judge was surprised because Fahrurozi often answered that he did not know when questioned about the extortion practices in processing K3 certificates. Fahrurozi said at that time he did not hear information related to those extortion practices.
“Sir, you were there. The incident lasted for years, how could you not hear about it from the people there,” said the judge.
“Correct, I really did not hear,” replied Fahrurozi.
“All these witnesses are from the Ministry of Manpower yesterday, Sir, they all know. So you are the only one who does not know,” said the judge in surprise.
“Correct, Your Honour, because they are all mostly people inside there, Your Honour,” replied Fahrurozi.
Fahrurozi continued to claim he did not know about the extortion practices in processing K3 certificates. The judge said Fahrurozi was in the Ministry of Manpower environment with the position of acting Director General until he was officially appointed.
“Then are you an outsider, Sir?” asked the judge.
“I am an outsider,” replied Fahrurozi.
“At least you were involved there,” added the judge.
“No, Your Honour, never,” replied Fahrurozi.
“Up to you, Sir,” responded the judge.
The judge then delved into Fahrurozi’s knowledge regarding blanks for issuing K3 certificates. Fahrurozi again claimed he did not understand the matter.
“Then at that time, was there any information about a shortage of blanks?” asked the judge.
“No,” replied Fahrurozi.
“So the funds for the blanks should be there?” asked the judge.
“I also do not quite understand at that time,” replied Fahrurozi.
“What do you understand, Sir? I’m confused from earlier, you don’t understand everything,” said the judge.
“Correct indeed, Your Honour, I was completely new there and throughout my career, I have never been there and I also do not know many of the people there,” replied Fahrurozi.
Noel Denies Requesting Ducati
Former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan (Noel) denied requesting one unit of a dark blue Ducati Scrambler from the “sultan” of the Ministry of Manpower, Irvian Bobby Mahendro. Noel said the initiative to give the Ducati came from Bobby.
“So, what is the history of that Ducati motorcycle?” asked the prosecutor.
“Well, at that time there was a discussion, he said ‘Mr Deputy Minister, Mr Deputy Minister likes motorcycles, right?’ I said ‘No, I don’t like motorcycles.’ ‘Well, there are many from the community kids there.’ I said I don’t like motorcycles. A few weeks later, his friend kept teasing me, Bobby’s friend who likes motorcycles, the community team said. ‘Sir, just try it first, if you like using it, if not, return it,’ like that,” replied Noel.
“Then finally a few weeks later I called ‘Bob, is that motorcycle of yours going to be given to me?’ ‘Yes, Sir, just send the address.’ I sent my address. It turned out not to match, why? The motorcycle is big, I fell.”
In that conversation, Noel claimed he did not