The Attorney General’s Office uncovered allegations of bribery and/or gratification targeting Surabaya District Court judges in handing down acquittals to murder convict, Ronald Tannur. The money spent to bribe three Surabaya District Court judges so they could hand down acquittals amounted to IDR 3.5 billion.
This was revealed by the Director of Investigations at the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (JAM-Pidsus) at the Attorney General’s Office, Abdul Qohar, in a press conference held Monday (4/11) evening. Through this press conference, he announced a new suspect named by investigators, namely Ronald’s mother, Meirizka Widjaja.
According to Qohar, Meirizka asked Lisa Rachmat to become Ronald’s lawyer. The two of them are said to have known each other for a long time because Ronald and Lisa’s children went to school at the same place. From the meeting held in October 2023, Lisa conveyed to Meirizka that there were things that needed to be paid for in managing Ronald’s trial.
“While the trial was in progress, the suspect MW (Meirizka) handed over a sum of money to LR (Lisa) amounting to IDR 1.5 billion,” explained Qohar.
He said Meirizka gave the money in stages. On the other hand, Lisa also covered other costs from her personal pocket during the processing of the case. According to the agreed promise, Meirizka will return the money Lisa spent in processing Ronald’s case at the first instance court.
“LR also covered part of the costs of processing the case until the Surabaya District Court decision amounted to IDR 2 billion. So the total was IDR 3.5 billion,” explained Qohar.
In smoothing out her steps, Lisa asked for help from Zarof Ricar as the former Head of the Legal and Judicial Training Agency of the Supreme Court (MA) to be introduced to Surabaya District Court officials. The aim is to elect a panel of judges to hear Ronald’s case regarding the murder of Sera Afrianti.
Previously, JAM-Pidsus investigators had named Lisa, Zarof, and three Surabaya District Court judges who handled Ronald’s trial, namely Erintuah Damanik, Mangapul, and Heru Hanindyo, as suspects. (M-4)
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**Interview with Abdul Qohar, Director of Investigations at the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Qohar. Recent reports have revealed significant allegations of bribery involving Surabaya District Court judges in the acquittal of Ronald Tannur. Can you summarize what led to these allegations?
**Abdul Qohar:** Thank you for having me. The inquiry began when we noticed irregularities in the case of Ronald Tannur, who was convicted of murder. Our investigations uncovered a network of bribery involving three judges at the Surabaya District Court. The amount involved in these actions is around IDR 3.5 billion, which raises serious questions regarding judicial integrity.
**Interviewer:** That’s quite a substantial amount. Can you explain how Ronald Tannur’s family was involved in these allegations?
**Abdul Qohar:** Certainly. It appears that Ronald’s mother, Meirizka Widjaja, played a pivotal role in this case. She allegedly coordinated efforts to secure the acquittal by engaging a specific lawyer, Lisa Rachmat, known to be an acquaintance. Their longstanding relationship contributed to a web of influence that we are now investigating.
**Interviewer:** What steps are being taken to address this situation, particularly regarding the judges implicated?
**Abdul Qohar:** We have already detained the three judges involved, and they are currently facing investigation for their alleged roles in this bribery scheme. Our office is committed to restoring public trust in the judicial system and will take appropriate legal action against all parties involved, including any further individuals who may be implicated.
**Interviewer:** How do you foresee the implications of this case on the legal system in Indonesia?
**Abdul Qohar:** This case has the potential to reignite public debate about corruption within the judiciary. We are determined to ensure that justice prevails and that such incidents of bribery are eliminated. Strengthening the legal frameworks and ensuring accountability is crucial for maintaining the integrity of our legal system.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Qohar, for your insights. It’s clear that your office is taking these allegations seriously, and we’ll be watching how this case unfolds.
**Abdul Qohar:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this critical issue. We appreciate the attention it is receiving from the public and the media.
