With Its Top Leader Named as Nickel Corruption Suspect, Ombudsman Apologises and Promises Public Service Functions Will Continue

The designation of Hery Susanto as a suspect by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has shaken the internal workings of the Indonesian Ombudsman. The public service oversight body has finally spoken out, conveying an apology to the public. This apology was issued amid sharp public scrutiny of the Ombudsman’s credibility, following the legal case ensnaring the figure who had only recently assumed the role of chairman. “The Ombudsman RI Leadership for the 2026-2031 Period conveys an apology for the public discomfort and regrets that this incident has occurred,” the Ombudsman stated in a press release quoted on Friday, 17 April 2026. Not only expressing regret, the Ombudsman also assured that it would fully respect all ongoing legal processes. The institution emphasised that it would not interfere with the handling of the case now under the purview of law enforcement authorities. “The Ombudsman RI Leadership fully respects the ongoing legal process and hands over the handling of this case to the competent law enforcement authorities and will be cooperative,” it said. Amid the storm engulfing it, the Ombudsman recognises that public trust is the primary stake. Therefore, internal measures have been promptly prepared to ensure the organisation’s wheels continue to turn normally. The institution affirmed that the public service oversight functions would not be disrupted, even though their top leadership is entangled in a legal case. “In addition, the public service oversight functions will continue as they should and will not be disrupted by the ongoing legal process,” it stated. Previously reported, the legal drama ensnaring the Chairman of the Indonesian Ombudsman, Hery Susanto, continues to unfold. After being arrested earlier, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has officially named Hery as a suspect in the alleged corruption case regarding the management of nickel mining trade. This designation was made after investigators from the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) obtained evidence deemed sufficient to implicate Hery. This was revealed by the Director of Investigations at the Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Affairs of the AGO, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi. “The Jampidsus investigation team has designated, namely Mr HS, designating Mr HS as a suspect in the case of alleged criminal corruption in the nickel mining trade management activities from 2013 to 2025,” he said on Thursday, 16 April 2026. For context, the figure who had just taken the top leadership seat at the Indonesian Ombudsman RI now faces the law. Hery Susanto, Chairman of the Republic of Indonesia Ombudsman, was arrested by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in a move that shocked the public.