This is How Ombudsman RI Chairman Hery Susanto Accepted a Rp 1.5 Billion Bribe

Chairman of the Indonesian Ombudsman, Hery Susanto, has been detained after allegedly accepting a bribe of Rp 1.5 billion related to a nickel mining governance case spanning 2013-2025. Hery Susanto is suspected of handling the calculation of non-tax state revenue (PNBP) for PT TSHI.

Dirdik Jampirdsus of the Attorney General’s Office, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, stated that PT TSHI initially faced issues with PNBP calculations. They then sought a solution to have the Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s policy corrected by the Ombudsman. It is here that Hery allegedly played a role as the orchestrator.

“Subsequently, together with Mr HS, arrangements were made so that the Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s letter or policy would be corrected by the Ombudsman, with instructions for PT TSHI to perform their own calculations regarding the obligations to be paid,” said Syarief during a press conference at the Attorney General’s Office building in South Jakarta, as reported by detikNews on Thursday (16/4/2026).

PT TSHI then dealt with Hery Susanto and handed over Rp 1.5 billion to handle the matter. The money was received by Hery from the Director of PT TSHI.

“To carry out the aforementioned, the suspect received a sum of money from Mr LKM, who is the Director of PT TSHI,” he explained.

As a result of this case, Hery has been charged under Articles 12 letter a, 12 letter b, Article 5 of the Corruption Eradication Law, and Article 606 of the Criminal Code. Hery has been detained for the initial 20 days at the Salemba Detention Centre, Branch of the South Jakarta District Prosecutor’s Office.