Marcella Santoso, Ary Gadun FM and M Syafei Appeal Judicial Bribery Convictions in CPO Case
JAKARTA — Lawyer Marcella Santoso and Ariyanto have filed appeals against their respective sentences of 14 years and 16 years in a case involving bribery of judges who issued acquittals to three crude palm oil (CPO) corporations and money laundering offences.
According to information displayed in the Jakarta Central District Court’s Case Tracking Information System (SIPP PN JAKPUS), only the Public Prosecutor’s Office (JPU) has filed an appeal notice to date.
“Appeal petition filed on Monday, 9 March 2026, Appellant: Muhammad Fadil Paramejeng (JPU). Appellee: Defendant Marcella Santoso,” as cited from the SIPP PN JAKPUS system on Tuesday (10/3/2026).
Jakarta Central District Court spokesman M Firman Akbar confirmed that Marcella, as defendant, has also filed an appeal.
In addition to Marcella and Ariyanto, Muhammad Syafei, Head of Social Security Legal Affairs at Wilmar Group, has also filed an appeal.
“Syafei has filed an appeal,” said Syafei’s lawyer, Juniver Girsang when contacted.
Syafei was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment and fined 300 million rupiah, with a subsidiary sentence of 100 days imprisonment.
Syafei is believed to have participated in the bribery but was not proven to have committed money laundering offences.
Marcella and Ariyanto were found guilty on both counts: bribery and money laundering.
Both are believed to have bribed former Jakarta South District Court chairman Muhammad Arif Nuryanta; former Deputy Registrar of Civil Affairs at North Jakarta District Court, Wahyu Gunawan; and three judges presiding over the CPO case—Djuyamto, Agam Syarif Baharuddin, and Ali Muhtarom—to issue acquittals for their clients.
Ariyanto was supposed to receive 4 million United States dollars (approximately 52 billion rupiah) from the corporations. However, Ariyanto retained 2 million US dollars from this bribery payment for himself and Marcella Santoso.
The remaining 2 million US dollars (approximately 32 billion rupiah) was delivered to the residence of Wahyu Gunawan.