Indonesian Ombudsman Chief Arrested Days After Taking Office in Mining Bribery Probe
The Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) arrested Hery Susanto, the Chairman of the Indonesian Ombudsman, at his Jakarta residence on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The apprehension was carried out by a team of investigators from the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus).
Authorities allege that Susanto accepted payments to facilitate the processing of audit reports (LHP) for several mining operations. This high-profile arrest underscores the ongoing scrutiny of public officials and the volatility of leadership within Indonesia’s oversight institutions.
The timing of the arrest is particularly striking, as Susanto had been in his role as Chairman for only six days. He was sworn into office by President Prabowo Subianto on April 10, 2026, beginning a term intended to run from 2026 to 2031.
Following his arrest, Susanto was transported to the Jampidsus headquarters at Gedung Bundar for questioning. Investigators subsequently named him a suspect in the case. At approximately 11:20 a.m. On April 16, 2026, Susanto was seen leaving the facility wearing an orange vest—the standard attire for suspects—before being placed in detention.
Susanto is a veteran of public policy and advocacy who had previously served as a member of the Ombudsman RI from 2021 to 2026. He was re-elected to the body in January 2026 following a fitness and propriety test conducted by Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR RI).
During his tenure with the Ombudsman, Susanto was known for focusing on the energy, investment, and maritime sectors, even as advocating for the prevention of maladministration and the improvement of public service oversight through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
