The judges had previously ruled that although the companies exported crude palm oil without government permits, their actions did not breach Indonesia’s criminal laws, as reported by the Jakarta Globe
By Titilope Adako
Three Indonesian judges have been arrested and detained for allegedly accepting bribes in a controversial case involving illegal crude palm oil exports.
According to Abdul Qohar, Director of Investigations at Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office (AGO), Judges Agam Syarif Baharuddin, Ali Muhtarom, and Djuyamto were apprehended late Sunday for allegedly accepting money in exchange for ruling in favour of three companies—Wilmar Group, Permata Hijau Group, and Musim Mas Group.
“They are fully aware that the payments were intended to secure a favourable ruling,” Mr Qohar said.
The judges had previously ruled that although the companies exported crude palm oil without government permits, their actions did not breach Indonesia’s criminal laws, as reported by the Jakarta Globe.
Mr Qohar disclosed that after questioning seven witnesses, “we gathered sufficient evidence to name the three judges as suspects.”
He added, “In 2024, the judges first received 4.5 billion Indonesian rupees ($268,111) through former South Jakarta District Court Chief Muhammad Arif Nuryanta and then another 18 billion Indonesian rupees in a second transaction.
“After the detainment of the judges, the total number of suspects in the case reached seven,” he said.
On Sunday, prosecutors also named South Jakarta District Court clerk Wahyu Gunawan, defence lawyers Marcella Santoso and Ariyanto, and Mr Nuryanta as suspects.
Wilmar Group, Permata Hijau Group, and Musim Mas Group were accused of breaching a temporary export ban on crude palm oil.
The ban was introduced by former President Joko Widodo in 2022 amid a national shortage of cooking oil.
The government claimed the illegal exports cost the nation $10.9 million due to the need to subsidise local cooking oil prices.
In January 2023, five individuals, including renowned market analyst Lin Che Wei and a senior trade ministry official, were sentenced to between one and three years in prison in connection to the scandal.
Other convicted parties include former Director-General of International Trade, Indrasari Wisnu Wardhana, and business executives Parulian Tumanggor, Stanley MA, and Pierre Togar Sitanggang.
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