Prosecutors Seek to Reject Defence Plea in Cooking Oil Verdict Bribery Case
The public prosecutors (JPU) have requested the judicial panel to reject the defence plea submitted by defendant Marcella Santoso and others in the bribery case concerning a cooking oil (migor) court acquittal verdict. The prosecutors stated they remain committed to their charges against all defendants.
This was conveyed by prosecutors during their rebuttal at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday, 25 February 2026. The defendants in this case are lawyer Marcella Santoso, Ariyanto Bakri, Junaedi Saibih, and M Syafei representing the corporations Wilmar Group, Musimas Group, and Permata Hijau Group.
“Accordingly, the defence of the defendant or defendant’s advocate must be rejected,” the prosecutor stated whilst reading the rebuttal.
Prosecutors remain convinced that IDR 60 billion was transferred to secure the dismissal of the cooking oil case. The prosecutor noted there was a discrepancy of IDR 20 billion whose precise whereabouts within the possession of Marcella, Ariyanto or Syafei remain unclear.
“During the investigation, it was not determined with certainty where the remaining IDR 20 billion was located, whether it was held by Ariyanto, Marcella Santoso or defendant M Syafei,” the prosecutor stated.
“Therefore, in accordance with Article 4 paragraph 2 of Supreme Court Regulation Number 5 of 2014 concerning replacement fines in corruption offences, which states that if the assets obtained by each defendant cannot be determined with certainty, replacement fines may be imposed proportionally and objectively in accordance with the respective role of each defendant,” the prosecutor added.
In this case, Marcella, Ariyanto, and M Syafei are also charged with money laundering offences. Additionally, prosecutors also sought to reject the defence plea of defendants in the alleged investigation obstruction case of three corruption matters: Junaedi Saibih, M Adhiya Muzzaki, and Tian Bahtiar.
Prosecutors remain convinced that Junaedi, Adhiya and Tian created programmes and content aimed at forming and directing negative public opinion regarding the handling of the three cases. These three cases involve corruption in tin commodity management, sugar import corruption at the Ministry of Trade, and corruption concerning crude palm oil (CPO) export permit processing.
“(Requesting the judicial panel) to accept and consider all our criminal charges, Your Honour,” the prosecutor requested.
For information, the verdict hearing for Marcella, Ariyanto, Junaedi, M Syafei, Adhiya, and Tian will be held on Monday, 2 March. The following are details of the prosecutor’s charges against Marcella and others:
Alleged bribery and money laundering case concerning cooking oil:
Marcella Santoso and Ariyanto Bakri are each charged with 17 years imprisonment, IDR 600 million fine alternatively 150 days imprisonment, and replacement funds of IDR 21.602 billion alternatively 8 years imprisonment.
M Syafei is charged with 15 years imprisonment, IDR 600 million fine alternatively 150 days imprisonment, and replacement funds of IDR 9.333 billion alternatively 5 years imprisonment.
Junaedi Saibih is charged with 9 years imprisonment and IDR 600 million fine alternatively 150 days imprisonment.
Alleged investigation obstruction in three corruption cases:
Tian Bahtiar is charged with 8 years imprisonment, IDR 600 million fine alternatively 150 days imprisonment.
Junaedi Saibih is charged with 10 years imprisonment, IDR 600 million fine alternatively 150 days imprisonment.
Adhiya Muzzaki is charged with 8 years imprisonment, IDR 600 million fine alternatively 150 days imprisonment.