Yeka Hendra Manipulates Ombudsman Report to Obstruct CPO Probe
The Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) has named former Ombudsman member Yeka Hendra Fatika as a suspect in an obstruction of justice case. He is alleged to have interfered with the investigation into crude palm oil (CPO) export permits.
Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, Director of Investigations at Kejagung’s Special Crimes Unit (Jampidsus), stated that Yeka allegedly manipulated the Ombudsman’s Inspection Report (LHP) to repeal the Ministry of Trade’s Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) regulation in favour of CPO exporters.
He explained that the case originated in February 2022 during Indonesia’s cooking oil shortage. As an Ombudsman member, Yeka initiated an investigation and conducted surveys across 34 provinces regarding the Ministry of Trade’s (Kemendag) supply and price stabilisation efforts.
“In early February 2022, during Indonesia’s cooking oil shortage, YHF, as an Ombudsman RI member, initiated an investigation by ordering the Chief Assistant III team to conduct surveys across 34 provinces and track media reports,” Syarief told reporters at Kejagung in South Jakarta on Monday 25 May 2026 evening.
However, Syarief said Yeka later altered Ombudsman Report No. 418 dated 15 August 2022. The reporting of the LHP’s contents was done unlawfully.
“YHF altered the Ombudsman RI report from addressing the cooking oil shortage to recommending the revocation of the DMO for export interests, in violation of the law. Consequently, the Ministry of Trade’s DMO regulation was recommended for repeal by the Ombudsman,” Syarief stated.
Not only manipulating the content, Yeka is also accused of leaking Ombudsman Report No. 418 dated 15 August 2022 to private individual Marcella Santoso. The document was meant solely for the Ministry of Trade as the respondent.
“YHF provided the LHP to MS (Marcella Santoso) and AALF Legal team, which was then used as the legal basis for administrative court (TUN) and civil lawsuits against the Ministry of Trade,” Syarief said.
This scheme allegedly aimed to derail ongoing corruption prosecutions against corporations at the Corruption Court. The same LHP, Syarief added, was used by corporate defendants as a defence plea to influence judges’ rulings in acquittal decisions.
“This was taken into account in the acquittal rulings of the CPO criminal case against corporate defendants PT Wilmar Group, PT Musim Mas Group, and PT Permata Hijau Group at the district court level,” he explained.
In return for his actions, Yeka is suspected of receiving money and project promises from the corporations. The funds are allegedly received through another person’s account.
“YHF received funds from PT Wilmar Group related to the LHP via another person’s account, and later received projects from companies within the Wilmar Group,” Syarief added.
Syarief confirmed the agency has evidence of the fund flows but declined to disclose the amounts when questioned.
“We will share details later. We’re not finished yet. It’s still ongoing,” he said.
He faces charges under Article 21 of the Anti-Corruption Law in conjunction with Article 20 of Law No. 1/2023 on the Criminal Code.