Ombudsman Respects Legal Process Following Search of Member's Office by Attorney General
JAKARTA — The head of Indonesia’s Ombudsman, Mokhammad Najih, has stated that the institution respects and is willing to cooperate with the law enforcement process being conducted by the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) of the Republic of Indonesia.
This statement was made following searches and seizures at the Ombudsman RI building and the residence of one Ombudsman member by investigators from the Attorney General’s Office on Monday, 9 March 2026.
“As an institution, Ombudsman RI respects and is willing to cooperate regarding the law enforcement process being carried out by the investigation team,” Najih said in a written statement on Monday, 16 March 2026.
The institution also upholds the principles of integrity, professionalism, and justice, and enjoys legal protections under Law Number 37 of 2008 concerning the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia.
“Therefore, the Ombudsman is open and willing to cooperate with the Attorney General’s investigation team in the interest of law enforcement and will ensure that the legal process being handled by the Attorney General’s investigators proceeds transparently and accountably,” Najih stated.
“Public trust is the foundation of the Ombudsman RI’s work. Public legitimacy is extremely important for the Ombudsman in carrying out its duties and functions of overseeing public services in Indonesia, and it is precisely because of this foundation that there is a need for mutual respect in carrying out duties and functions,” Najih said.
He added that each supervisory product issued by Ombudsman RI is morally binding in nature. This means that public service providers’ compliance with the Ombudsman’s supervisory products is based on ethics, morality, and propriety.
Najih also noted that the Ombudsman has continuously opened public participation through a Whistle Blowing System (WBS) mechanism in the event there are objections to supervisory products issued.
“We are very open to public criticism and welcome oversight of us as part of strengthening Ombudsman RI’s institutional capacity,” Najih said.
He also asked all parties to maintain the principle of presumption of innocence and to respect one another between institutions in the law enforcement process.