Teknowarta – The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has officially named Yeka Hendra Fatika, a former Commissioner of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia (Ombudsman RI), as a suspect in an alleged obstruction of justice case. This significant development is linked to the corruption scandal surrounding the provision of crude palm oil (CPO) export facilities and their derivatives in 2022.
Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, the Director of Investigation for Special Crimes at the AGO, confirmed this development, stating that investigators had gathered substantial evidence before making the designation. The move underscores the AGO’s commitment to pursuing all individuals involved in undermining the integrity of legal proceedings.
Speaking at the Attorney General’s Office building in Jakarta on Monday, May 25, Syarief elaborated, “The investigative team has named Mr. YHF, an Ombudsman RI member for the 2021-2026 period, as a suspect in the ongoing investigation.” This announcement marks a critical juncture in the broader CPO corruption probe.
Yeka is suspected of being intricately involved in the drafting of an Ombudsman RI examination report (LHP) that subsequently served as the foundation for lawsuits filed against the Ministry of Trade (MoT). The AGO alleges this report was strategically created to interfere with ongoing legal processes related to the CPO scandal.
The Attorney General’s Office suspects that Yeka actively sought to impede or derail the investigation, prosecution, and judicial examination of defendants already embroiled in the CPO export facility corruption case. Such actions are deemed a serious attempt to undermine the course of justice.
The controversy reportedly began in February 2022, a period marked by severe cooking oil scarcity in Indonesia. During this time, Yeka purportedly took the initiative to launch an Ombudsman RI investigation into the domestic supply and price stabilization of cooking oil, an area highly pertinent to the CPO export policies.
Crucially, the report’s recommendations, which included the revocation of the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) policy, were then allegedly utilized to bolster corporate lawsuits at the State Administrative Court (PTUN) and civil litigation against the Ministry of Trade. This use of the report is central to the obstruction charges.
Conversely, Syarief highlighted that the DMO policy itself forms a cornerstone of the alleged unlawful acts currently under scrutiny in the wider cooking oil corruption case handled by the AGO. This creates a direct conflict, as Yeka’s report advocated against a policy that the AGO considers key to the corruption.
“That LHP was used to sue the Ministry of Trade through the PTUN and also through civil proceedings. After obtaining the PTUN and civil rulings, it was then employed in pleas, ultimately serving to acquit or discharge three corporations,” Syarief asserted, detailing the alleged strategic manipulation of legal processes.
The three corporations implicated in this strategy are identified as the Wilmar Group, Musim Mas Group, and Permata Hijau Group. Syarief further revealed that Ombudsman RI LHP Number 418, dated August 15, 2022, was allegedly prepared unlawfully. It should have been exclusively submitted to the Ministry of Trade as the reported party, adhering to standard protocol.
However, the document was reportedly also provided to other entities, including the legal teams representing the corporations, subsequently becoming crucial material for their court submissions and allegedly influencing the outcomes of the lawsuits.
Adding another significant layer to the allegations, Yeka is also suspected of receiving illicit funds from one of the corporations connected to the case. This accusation suggests a potential conflict of interest and direct financial benefit from the alleged obstruction.
While the Attorney General’s Office has not yet disclosed the precise amount, the alleged payment is rumored to be as high as Rp 5 billion. Syarief commented on the matter, stating, “We will announce that later. What is clear is that it exists,” indicating ongoing investigation into the financial transactions.
For his alleged actions, Yeka faces charges under Article 21 of the Anti-Corruption Law in conjunction with Article 20 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. These serious legal provisions underscore the gravity of the accusations he now confronts.
Immediately following his designation as a suspect, the AGO detained Yeka for the next 20 days at the Salemba Detention Center, specifically the Attorney General’s Office branch. This detention signifies the immediate legal consequences of the charges.
Summary
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has officially named Yeka Hendra Fatika, a former Commissioner of the Ombudsman RI, as a suspect in an alleged obstruction of justice case. This significant development is linked to the 2022 corruption scandal concerning the provision of crude palm oil (CPO) export facilities. Investigators confirmed the designation after gathering substantial evidence, highlighting the AGO’s commitment to judicial integrity.
Yeka is suspected of being involved in drafting an Ombudsman RI report (LHP) which allegedly interfered with ongoing legal processes. This report was purportedly used to support lawsuits against the Ministry of Trade and to facilitate the acquittal of three corporations: Wilmar Group, Musim Mas Group, and Permata Hijau Group. Additionally, Yeka is suspected of receiving illicit funds from one of these corporations, leading to his detention and charges under the Anti-Corruption Law.