Legal Expert Backs Police, Urges No Obstruction in Coal Corruption Probe
Constitutional law expert Muhammad Rullyandi has given his full backing to the National Police’s Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortas Tipikor) to thoroughly investigate the root of the alleged corruption in coal supply fulfilment that caused mass blackouts in Sumatra. Rullyandi urged the police to investigate anyone involved in the case.
“I appreciate and support the swift, courageous and professional steps taken by the National Police’s Kortas Tipikor in enforcing the law to eradicate corruption in this coal case,” Rullyandi said in a statement on Thursday (9/7/2026).
He argued that the case must be investigated because it has harmed the public. He insisted that no party should obstruct the police in handling this case.
“This case has had a wide impact and is very detrimental to the community. Therefore, we must all respect the law enforcement process of the Kortas Tipikor and the Metro Jaya Regional Police, and not intervene or take actions that attempt to obstruct the legal process in this case,” he said.
The alleged corruption in coal supply fulfilment that triggered blackouts in Sumatra and several other regions of Indonesia is being investigated by the Kortas Tipikor. The case has been elevated to the investigation stage.
“We, the investigators, are providing an update on the handling of the criminal case of corruption and money laundering related to the procurement of coal supply needs at several coal-fired power plants (PLTU) during the period from 2018 to 2026,” said Head of the National Police’s Kortas Tipikor, Inspector General Totok Suharyanto, during a press conference at the Criminal Investigation Department on Monday (6/7).
The status upgrade to investigation was determined on 4 July 2026. Totok stated that his team found two companies suspected of committing legal irregularities in the fulfilment of coal supplies.
“At least, investigators found alleged irregularities in the procurement and fulfilment process of coal supplies at the PLTU by several companies involved: PT OBP and PT BRA,” Totok said.
Director of Enforcement at the Kortas Tipikor, Brigadier General Robertus Yohanes De Deo, added that there were several modus operandi used by the suspected perpetrators in this case. One of them was document manipulation.
Investigators also found manipulation related to the quantity of coal supplied to the PLTU, as well as alleged irregularities that resulted in payments or contract prices not matching the actual or real supply conditions.
No suspects have yet been named in this alleged corruption case. Investigators have examined 16 related witnesses and analysed a number of documents. State losses are estimated to reach Rp 5 trillion.