Ombudsman chief named suspect in nickel corruption case

The Attorney General’s Office has named Ombudsman chief Hery Susanto as a suspect in an alleged corruption case linked to nickel mining governance, officials said as quoted by media.

Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, director of investigations at the special crimes unit of the Attorney General’s Office, said the designation followed the collection of sufficient evidence through searches and other investigative measures.

The alleged offense is linked to the period between 2013 and 2025, including when Hery served as an Ombudsman commissioner for the 2021–2026 term.

Read also: Ombudsman to probe policy to accelerate nickel export ban

Prosecutors allege that Hery received Rp1.5 billion (around US$ 90,000) from a nickel mining company in exchange for facilitating a recommendation related to the calculation of non-tax state revenue (PNBP) in the nickel mining sector.

Following his designation as a suspect, Hery was detained for 20 days at a detention facility managed by the South Jakarta District Prosecutor’s Office.

The case forms part of a broader investigation into alleged irregularities in nickel mining governance.

Editing by Alexander Ginting