Zarof Ricar Claims He Received IDR 100 Billion Fee For Acting as Go Between in Nickel Mining Deal, Kompas.com

By Syakirun Ni’am and Dani Prabowo for Kompas.com, May 19, 2025

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Former officer of Indonesia’s Supreme Court Zarof Ricar claims he received a fee of 10 million US dollars, or IDR 100 billion, from acting as a mining deal go-between.

“Several times I have been what is called, what’s it called, a go-between for buying and selling things like mines,” said Zarof, as he was being examined in his capacity as defendant in a case of alleged bribery and gratification at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday May 19, 2025.

During the hearing the public prosecutor asked Zarof to explain the source of the IDR 920 billion bribe and 51 kilograms of gold ceased by investigators from a safe in his house. According to Zarof he had acted as a go-between several times for buying and selling deals between land owners and mining business people.

He had been doing this since 2016 or from the time when he was employed as Head of the Research and Development and Legal and Judicial Education and Training Body of Indonesian’s national Supreme Court.

“In your capacity as the head of this body as an intermediary for parties with a need to arrange mining business, what kind of mines did you handle and where were they?” asked the prosecutor.

“Gold mines in Papua, and there was coal,” answered Zarof.

Zarof admitted that from acting as a gold mine broker in Papua he had received IDR 10 billion. This amount differed from the statement contained in the investigation brief (BAP) given to investigators who said he received IDR 7 billion.

“What is clear it was more than 10 billion [rupiah],” he said. “That’s what you received from the parties?” asked the prosecutor.

“From the landowner and the contractor,” replied Zarof.

In addition, Zarof said he admitted to receiving $US10 million from acting as broker for a nickel mine.

According to Zarf, based on an exhange rate of IDR 10,000 to the US dollar, he received as much as IDR 100 billion.

However, once again this testimony differed from his statement contained in the investigation file brief. This surprised prosecutors because Zarof had suddenly remembered receiving a different amount of money.

“How is it you can remember the 10 million dollars now?” questioned the prosecutor.

“Well you see, that’s because in the end the value didn’t come up to what was ceased worth Rp 920 billion, that was, maybe, when I received it, if it was valued, it would have been worth around Rp 400 billion,” said Zarof.

He admitted that the dropping off of the money was conducted without any contract or evidence because he realized he was a government administrator and therefore he wasn’t allowed to accept the gift.

The money he received was placed in the safe that was ceased by the investigators from the Attorney General’s Office. “I didn’t use any of it for anything. I just kept it in the safe,” said Zarof.

This article is based on https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/05/19/15270521/zarof-ricar-klaim-jadi-broker-tambang-nikel-dapat-fee-rp-100-miliar.

In earlier news…

Attorney for Ronald Tannur Admits Handing Over IDR 5 Billion to Former Supreme Court Official to Arrange Appeal

By Syakirun Ni’am, Jessi Carina for Kompas.com, May 14, 2025

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The attorney for convicted murderer Gregorius Ronald Tannur, Lisa Rachmat, admitted handing over Rp 5 billion (about $333,000) to former Supreme Court (MA) officer Mr. Zarof Ricar.

Lisa made the admission while being examined as a government witness in the trial of former Supreme Court officer Zarof Ricar and Ronald Tannur’s mother, Meirizka Widjaja Tannur, at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday May 14, 2025.

The money was allegedly handed over to secure a particular outcome from Supreme Court justices in the trial of the appellant Ronald Tannur during his Superior Court murder appeal trial.

“How much did you hand over?” asked the prosecutor.

“Rp 5 billion (about $333,000),” answered Lisa.

“Was it in Singapore dollars?” asked the prosecutor further.

“SGD, yes,” answered Lisa.

Lisa said that the money was handed over in two stages at Zarof’s residence in the Senayan district of Central Jakarta. During the handover, she asked Zarof about the Supreme Court justices who were going to try her client’s appeal.

She asked that the appeal panel hand down a judgement that upheld the verdict of the Surabaya District Court that found Ronald Tannur not guilty of murdering [his girlfriend at the time] Dini Sera Afrianti.

“If you know any of them, please help me get the District Court decision upheld. I’ll try is what he said,” related Lisa. “You said that to Zarof Ricar?” the prosecutor asked.

“Yes. Mr. Zarof said, let me try first, but I don’t promise,” said Lisa.

Lisa also admitted to offering Zarof a fee of Rp 1 billion (about $67,000). However, the money was never given to Zarof.

“However, what was realized at the handover was only the Rp 5 (billion) ($333,000), is that right?” asked the prosecutor.

“That’s correct,” answered Lisa.

In the current trial, Tannur’s attorney Lisa Rachmat is charged with bribing three Surabaya District Court judges who tried Ronald Tannur for murder with Rp 4.6 billion (about $330,000). The money is alleged to have come from Ronald Tannur’s mother, Meirizka Widjaja. The bribe is alleged to have been given to secure an acquittal (vrijspraak) from the court from the prosecutor’s indictment for murder. Ronald Tannur did in fact walked free from prison.

Lisa is further charged with criminal conspiracy to attempt to bribe the head of the Supreme Court appeal panel, Justice Soesilo, who headed the panel that tried Ronald Tannur’s appeal. She is alleged to have handed over Rp 5 billion ($333,000) for the appeal court justices and Rp 1 billion ($67,000) for Zarof himself.

This article is based on https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/05/14/16060461/pengacara-ronald-tannur-ngaku-serahkan-rp-5-m-ke-eks-pejabat-ma-untuk-urus

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Corruption: Ronald Tannur Murder Trial, Corrupt Judges and Growing Frustration

Based on reporting by Tempo Magazine staff correspondents, January 2025

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The high-profile case of Gregorius Ronald Tannur, who faced charges of assault and murder, threatens to expose a sprawling web of corruption within Indonesia’s judicial and political establishments. His acquittal in July 2024, delivered by a panel of three judges from the Surabaya District Court, has since been marred by allegations of bribery involving judicial and political figures.

Political Connections and Family Ties

Ronald Tannur is the son of Edward Tannur, a former member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) from the National Awakening Party (PKB). Following his son’s controversial acquittal, Edward was suspended both from his party and his position in the House of Representatives. Born on December 2, 1961 in Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara, Edward had a career spanning business and politics. He served as the Director of Tulip Supermarket since 1980 and engaged in the construction sector from 1983. His political journey began in local government, holding various leadership roles in the North Central Timor Regency before entering national politics in 2019.

Responding to public outrage over the case, Edward apologized and expressed shock at his son’s actions. “I extend my condolences to the victim’s family,” he stated at a press conference in October 2023. Edward maintained that he had avoided interfering with any related legal proceedings, emphasizing his commitment to transparency.

Allegations of Judicial Bribery

The investigation into Ronald Tannur’s case has implicated prominent judicial figures. According to Harli Siregar, Head of the Legal Information Center at the Attorney General’s Office, Meirizka Widjaja, Ronald’s mother, and his lawyer, Lisa Rachmat, orchestrated a scheme to influence court proceedings. From October 2023 through August 2024, approximately IDR 1.5 billion (about USD $100,000) was allegedly paid to secure a favorable verdict.

Lisa Rachmat reportedly engaged Zarof Ricar, a former official from Indonesia’s Supreme Court, to facilitate meetings with the judges handling the case. Zarof allegedly acted as an intermediary between Lisa and Surabaya District Court Chief Judge Rudi Suparmono. Though Rudi was allocated a bribe of SGD $20,000 (approximately IDR 237 million), he had not yet received the money at the time of discovery. Investigations are ongoing to determine his culpability.

The Role of Corrupt Judges

Court documents detail how Lisa Rachmat allegedly delivered SGD $140,000 in bribes to the three judges presiding over Ronald’s trial—Judge Erintuah Damanik, Judge Mangapul, and Judge Heru Hanindyo. The bribes, allegedly distributed in cash during meetings in the capital city of Central Java province Semarang, were intended to secure an acquittal. On June 1, 2024, Lisa allegedly met with Judge Erintuah Damanik at Semarang’s Ahmad Yani Airport’s Dunkin’ Donuts, where she allegedly handed over a portion of the funds. Judge Erintuah Damanik later allegedly shared the money with the other two judges sitting in the trial.

The panel, composed of Judges Damanik, Mangapul, and Hanindyo, delivered a not-guilty verdict on July 24, 2024, sparking public outcry. In subsequent legal proceedings, all three judges have faced charges of accepting bribes totaling SGD $308,000 and IDR 1 billion. They are currently being tried at Jakarta’s Corruption Court.

Further Legal Implications

Meirizka Widjaja and Lisa Rachmat’s cases moved to the second stage of prosecution in January 2025. They are charged with bribery and conspiracy under Indonesia’s Anti-Corruption Law and face additional allegations involving alleged bag man former Supreme Court official Zarof Ricar. Zarof’s role in manipulating superior court (cassation) level judges for Ronald’s appeal remains under investigation. On October 24, 2024, investigators for the Attorney General’s Office seized nearly IDR 1 trillion (about USD $63 million) in cash and 51 kilograms of gold from Zarof’s residences, believed to be linked to years of corruption at Indonesia’s Supreme Court.

Despite mounting evidence, Zarof’s case has yet to reach trial. AGO spokesperson Harli Siregar claimed that the Attorney General’s Office is finalizing documentation before transferring the case to prosecutors. The delay, while within legal time limits, has drawn criticism over perceptions the case is being slow-walked.

Broader Impact

The Ronald Tannur case has reignited debates about judicial corruption in Indonesia. Critics have called for stricter oversight and reform within the judiciary to restore public trust. With multiple figures implicated, including judges and political operatives, the unfolding trials may test the country’s resolve to address entrenched corruption in the legal system.

This article is based on https://www.tempo.co/hukum/profil-edward-tannur-ayah-ronald-tannur-yang-dinonaktifkan-sebagai-anggota-dpr-dan-pkb–33767; https://www.tempo.co/hukum/eks-ketua-pn-surabaya-dapat-jatah-uang-suap-vonis-bebas-ronald-tannur-1192909; https://www.tempo.co/hukum/berkas-pengacara-dan-ibu-ronald-tannur-masuk-tahap-ii-1191604; and https://www.tempo.co/penulis/amelia-rahima-sari-136

***

Indonesian Attorney General’s Office Stunned by Discovery of Nearly $63 Million and 51 Kg of Gold in Former Supreme Court Official’s Home

By the Editorial Team at Kumparan.com, October 25, 2024

The Indonesian Attorney General’s Office (AGO) conducted a search of the home of former Supreme Court official Zarof Ricar in Jakarta, uncovering nearly IDR 1 trillion (approximately US$63 million) and 51 kilograms of gold.

The operation is linked to an investigation into an alleged bribery scheme intended to secure an acquittal for Ronald Tannur in his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Dini Sera Afriyanti. Ronald Tannur is the son of former Indonesian House of Representative legislator Edward Tannur (PKB-East Nusa Tenggara II) (https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Tannur).

The search of Zarof’s home, conducted on October 24, 2024, took place in two locations: Ricar’s residence in South Jakarta’s Senayan area and his accommodation at the Le Meridien Hotel in Bali. “AGO Special Crimes investigators, on October 24, 2024, searched two sites, including Zarof’s home in South Jakarta and a hotel room in Bali, conducting the operation late into the night,” said Abdul Qohar, Director of the AGO’s Special Crimes Investigation Unit, during a press briefing on Friday, October 25.

According to Qohar, investigators were astonished by the vast sum of cash they uncovered. “I have to say, even we were surprised,” he said. “We did not expect to find nearly IDR 1 trillion in cash, along with nearly 51 kilograms of gold stored in his residences.”

During the press conference, the AGO presented stacks of cash in multiple currencies, including Indonesian rupiah and US dollars, covering five different currencies. The breakdown is as follows:

• Hong Kong Dollar (HKD): 483,320 HKD (equivalent to approximately IDR 975.5 million, at IDR 2,018 per HKD)
• Euro (EUR): 71,200 EUR (around IDR 1.2 billion, at IDR 16,976 per EUR)
• US Dollar (USD): 1,897,362 USD (about IDR 29.8 billion, at IDR 15,683 per USD)
• Indonesian Rupiah (IDR): 5.7 billion IDR
• Singapore Dollar (SGD): 74,494,427 SGD (equivalent to IDR 885 billion, at IDR 11,880 per SGD)
• Gold: 51 kilograms of Antam-certified gold bars

Investigators suspect the funds and gold were part of illicit payments, including bribes and gratuities received by Zarof, allegedly for facilitating appeals in a variety of court cases, including Tannur’s. Qohar noted, “During his tenure as Head of the [Supreme Court’s] Research and Development, Education and Training Agency, Zarof is alleged to have accepted the illicit payments.”

According to Qohar, all of the assets uncovered—valued at approximately IDR 920.9 billion (US$58 million)—will be subject to further legal examination. Zarof Ricar’s most recent official role was as the head of the Supreme Court’s Research and Development, Education, and Training Agency. He was also given a credit as an executive producer of the recently released film, Sang Pengadil (The Judge).

Tannur Bribery Case

Zarof is alleged to have been promised IDR 1 billion (US$63,000) as a “facilitation fee” by Tannur’s lawyer, Lisa Rachmat, in exchange for expediting the appeal process and influencing the court’s decision. The aim was to ensure Tannur’s acquittal, upholding the ruling from the initial trial. Furthermore, Rachmat is suspected of allocating an additional IDR 5 billion (US$315,000) to bribe the judges handling the case, with funds allegedly to be delivered through Zarof.

However, the appeal decision did not favor Tannur, who was ultimately sentenced to five years in prison by the Supreme Court on October 22, 2024. The Indonesian Supreme Court has not yet commented on the case, and Zarof has not made any public statements since being arrested.

This article is based on https://kumparan.com/kumparannews/kejagung-kaget-temukan-uang-nyaris-rp-1-t-and-emas-51-kg-di-rumah-eks-pejabat-ma-23mnxvvc88a/full and is not authorized.

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