Indonesia arrests chief ombudsman on bribery charges after only six days in office


JAKARTA: Indonesia's Attorney General's Office arrested the country's chief ombudsman just six days after his appointment for allegedly taking a bribe from a local nickel company, authorities said on Thursday (April 16).

Here are some key details about the arrest:

* Prosecutors arrested Hery Susanto (pic) on Thursday, said Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, director of investigations at the Attorney General's Office. He was inaugurated as Indonesia's chief ombudsman by President Prabowo Subianto on April 10.

* Susanto allegedly received 1.5 billion rupiah (US$87,540.12) from a nickel company during his period as a board member with Indonesia's ombudsman office from 2021 to 2026.

* Nahdi told reporters that the nickel company, identified only by the initials TSHI, encountered problems related to the calculation of its fine.

* Susanto and the company made arrangements which enabled the ombudsman to change the amount of fine the Forestry Ministry was recommending it should pay, Nahdi said.

* "It ordered the company to pay based on its own calculations," he added.

* He said Susanto had allegedly violated bribery rules in Indonesia's criminal code, which could lead to a maximum sentence of three years in jail. - Reuters

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Aseanplus News

Trump calls off new Iran attack at request of Gulf states
Indonesia police name Singapore-based palm oil group Musim Mas as suspect over environmental breaches
Human lower body found in western Tokyo; deceased may have been bear attack victim
Silent struggle: Sexual harassment against men should not be brushed off
Govt expands Rahmah Cement Scheme, allocates 1.6mil tonnes for affordable homes
Chinese personnel swim, use boats to evacuate people in flood-hit areas
Murder, body dumping of OKU: Four men charged in Kota Baru
Man charged with using other individuals’ MyKad numbers to buy subsidised petrol
Teen drowns while swimming with friends in Sungai Langat
S$72mil embezzlement case: Singapore tycoon who evaded arrest for nearly 20 years faces 38 more charges

Others Also Read