Profile of Hery Susanto, Ombudsman Chairman Arrested by Attorney General's Office
The Attorney General’s Office has designated Hery Susanto as a suspect in an alleged criminal corruption case concerning nickel mining governance from 2013 to 2025. The suspect designation was made on Thursday, 15 April 2026.
This Chairman of the Republic of Indonesia Ombudsman is suspected of receiving a bribe of Rp 1.5 billion from the Director of PT TSHI. The money was given to Hery Susanto because he had assisted the company in arranging for the Ombudsman to collude regarding a decision by the Ministry of Forestry. The decision stated that PT TSHI had issues with the calculation of non-tax state revenues.
“The suspect designation was made after the investigation team found sufficient evidence,” said Director of Investigations at the Attorney General’s Office, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, during a press conference at his office in South Jakarta on Thursday, 16 April 2026.
Profile of Hery Susanto
This man, born in Cirebon on 9 April 1975, was only sworn in as Chairman of the Republic of Indonesia Ombudsman by President Prabowo Subianto for the 2026-2031 period one week ago. Hery took the oath of office in front of the head of state on 10 April.
Before being elected as Chairman of the Republic of Indonesia Ombudsman, Hery was a member of the institution during the 2021-2026 period. According to the official Ombudsman RI website, Hery Susanto is known to have a background as an activist.
His career at the Ombudsman as a member focused on oversight of the maritime, investment, and energy sectors. In addition, Hery Susanto previously served as an Expert Staff to a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Commission IX from 2014 to 2019.
Before joining the government institution, Hery Susanto was Executive Director of Komunal from 2004-2009 and 2009-2014. Hery Susanto also served as General Chairman of the National Coordinator of the BPJS Care Community from 2016 to 2021.
Hery Susanto has a doctoral educational background. He completed his S3 studies in the Population Education and Environmental Living programme at Jakarta State University in 2024.
Hery Susanto is recorded as having total wealth of Rp 4.1 billion, as reported in the State Organiser’s Wealth Report in December 2025. The details include land and buildings worth Rp 2.3 billion. This land and buildings are in East Java with an area of 150 square metres worth Rp 1.8 billion, and land and buildings with an area of 602 square metres in Cirebon worth Rp 550 million.
In addition, Hery Susanto is recorded as owning several motor vehicles consisting of a Vespa LX Iget 125 motorcycle from 2022 worth Rp 50 million and a Chery Micro car from 2025 worth Rp 545 million. The total value of these motor vehicle assets is Rp 595 million. He also has immovable assets worth Rp 685 million, as well as cash and cash equivalents of Rp 539 million.