Nuzran Joher and the challenge of restoring trust in the Ombudsman
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Nuzran Joher has begun a new chapter of leadership at the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia (ORI), carrying a heavy responsibility: maintaining the institution’s integrity while restoring public trust following the legal case involving the previous chairman.
Nuzran officially became the Chairman of the Indonesian Ombudsman after taking his oath of office before President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday (1/10). On the same occasion, Radian Syam also took his oath as a Member of the Indonesian Ombudsman, thereby completing the nine-member leadership formation of the public service oversight body.
The appointments were based on Presidential Decrees Number 84/P of 2026 and Number 96/P of 2026 regarding the Appointment of the Chairman and Members of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia.
Following the inauguration, Nuzran immediately emphasised that the oath of office taken must serve as a guide in performing his duties. “Certainly, this oath and promise will be etched in our hearts and implemented,” Nuzran told reporters. He noted that the oath serves as the foundation for carrying out duties and the mandate of the law as an external oversight body for public service providers.
For Nuzlar, the inauguration also marks a new momentum as the nine-member leadership structure of the Ombudsman is now complete. Under his leadership, the Ombudsman faces the challenge of maintaining integrity while simultaneously regaining public trust in the institution. “This is a good step for us. We are now complete with nine members, and we will continue to work with full integrity and strive to restore public trust in supervising the implementation of public services in accordance with the law,” said Nuzran.
From Kerinci to the Ombudsman
Nuzran was born in Kerinci, Jambi, on 28 October 1973. He completed his undergraduate studies at the State Islamic Institute (IAIN) Imam Bonjol Padang in 1997, later pursuing a master’s degree at Pramita Indonesia University, which he completed in 2009.
Before joining the Ombudsman, Nuzran had experience in the legislative and constitutional fields. He served as a member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) for the 2009–2014 period, holding various leadership and committee positions. Nuzran also served as an Expert Staff member to the Chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) and was involved in constitutional studies within the MPR RI environment. This track record serves as his foundation in leading the Ombudsman, an institution legally mandated to oversee public service delivery.
Before becoming chairman, Nuzran was not a stranger to the Ombudsman, having served as a member for the 2026–2031 term. The House of Representatives (DPR RI) subsequently approved Nuzran as Chairman during the Plenary Session on 18 August 2026.
A Test of Trust
Nuzran replaces Hery Susanto, the previous Chairman of the Indonesian Ombudsman, who was dishonourably dismissed by the Ombudsman’s Ethics Council on 8 June 2026. Hery had been inaugurated as Chairman for the 2026–2031 term on 10 April 2026. Six days later, the Attorney General’s Office named him a suspect in a corruption case related to the management of nickel mining businesses.
This case presented a serious challenge to the integrity of an institution tasked with overseeing public services. When Hery’s legal case emerged, the Ombudsman leadership apologised for the public inconvenience and expressed a commitment to maintaining public trust, transparency, and institutional accountability. The Ombudsman’s Ethics Council subsequently found Hery guilty of serious violations of the code of ethics and conduct, imposing a dishonourable dismissal from his position.
Legal proceedings against Hery are ongoing. In a session at the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court on 24 September 2026, prosecutors demanded a prison sentence of five years and six months for Hery. Prosecutors also sought a fine of Rp300 million, or an alternative of 100 days of imprisonment, and the payment of restitution amounting to Rp4.19 billion, or an alternative of three years in prison. In the case, Hery was accused of receiving bribes in the form of cash and property totalling Rp4.85 billion, though he has denied the allegations.
Amidst the legal proceedings against his predecessor, the Ombudsman has continued its public service oversight functions. One such inspection that drew public attention was a sudden inspection at the Class IIA Cibinong Prison in Bogor Regency, West Java, on 23 September. During the inspection, the Ombudsman discovered allegations of a “luxury cluster” of buildings inhabited by inmates, along with several security vulnerabilities. The team found more than 10 buildings and several parked vehicles in the area; one building featured facilities including a living room, bedroom, television, and refrigerator. The Ombudsman has since followed up on these findings by coordinating with relevant authorities to encourage improvements in prison management.
Such oversight serves as a benchmark for the new Ombudsman leadership to demonstrate that the function of supervising public services remains operational amidst efforts to restore institutional trust.
Nine Leaders
The simultaneous inauguration of Radian Syam and Nuzran ensures the nine-member leadership of the Indonesian Ombudsman for the 2026–2031 term is complete. Radian has an academic background in law and is a lecturer at Trisakti University, specialising in administrative law. With Radian’s appointment, the leadership structure consists of Nuzran Joher as Chairman and Rahmadi Indra Tektona as Vice Chairman, alongside members Abdul Ghoffar, Fikri Yasin, Maneger Nasution, Partono, Robert Na Endi Jaweng, Syafrida Rachmawati Rasahan, and Radian Syam.