Indonesia Ombudsman Chair Hery Susanto Dismissed for Corruption and Ethics Violations

On 8 June 2026 Indonesia’s Ombudsman Ethics Council (Majelis Etik) voted to remove Chairman Hery Susanto from his 2026‑2031 term without honor. The council found him guilty of “pelanggaran berat” (serious ethical breaches) including bias in handling public complaints, intimidation of staff, conflict‑of‑interest decisions, and repeated misconduct that damaged the Ombudsman’s credibility.

The dismissal was also linked to a criminal investigation by the Attorney General’s Office that named Susanto a suspect in a corruption case involving nickel‑mining permits. Prosecutors allege he accepted Rp1.5 billion in kickbacks from PT Toshida Indonesia (TSHI) after the company sought Ombudsman influence over a Ministry of Forestry revenue‑sharing dispute. The Ethics Council’s decision was sent to the President, the House of Representatives and the relevant parliamentary commission for appointment of a replacement.

The action marks a rare disciplinary step against a senior anti‑corruption watchdog in Indonesia, underscoring heightened scrutiny of public‑office integrity.