The Journey of the Ronald Tannur Case: From Acquittal, To Conviction for Bribing a Judge, To Remission, from Kompas.com

By Irfan Kamil and Robertus Belarminus for Kompas.com, August 18, 2025

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Gregorius Ronald Tannur’s name is once again in the public spotlight. The convict in the Dini Sera Afrianti murder case received a remission, or reduced sentence, during the commemoration of the 80th Indonesian Independence Day on Sunday (August 17, 2025).

In a press release from Salemba Penitentiary in Jakarta, Prison Warden Mohamad Fadil said that several inmates who have attracted public attention have received remissions.

90 Day Remissions

“The inmates who have attracted public attention and received remissions are Ahmad Fathonah, Edward Seky Soeryadjaya, Ervan Fajar Mandala, Gregorius Ronald Tannur, John Repra alias John Kei, M.B. Gunawan, Ofan Sofwan, Shane Lukas Rotua Pangondian Lumbantoruan, and Windu Aji Sutanto,” Fadil said in the press release, quoted on Monday (August 18, 2025).

Fadil revealed that Ronald Tannur received a 90-day remission. He stressed that remissions are granted to every inmate who has demonstrated good behavior, served a disciplinary sentence within six months, participated in rehabilitation programs with good ratings, and shown a reduced risk profile.

The Dini Sera Afrianti Murder Case

The case captured public attention in 2023 when Tannur was named a suspect after assaulting his girlfriend, Dini Sera Afrianti, during an argument that resulted in her death at Lenmarc Mall in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

During the altercation, Tannur kicked Dini’s right leg, causing her to fall; struck her on the head with a liquor bottle; and drove over her body with a car. Although Dini was taken to the National Hospital in Surabaya, she could not be saved.

Tannur Trial

Surabaya Police Chief Senior Commissioner Pasma Royce said Tannur was named a suspect after assaulting Dini, leading to her death. During the trial, the public prosecutor from the Surabaya District Attorney’s Office sought a 12-year prison sentence and restitution of Rp 263 million to Dini’s heirs in lieu of six-month of a imprisonment term.

Tannur Acquittal

However, Ronald’s legal process has followed a spectacular path. He was acquitted in the trial for assault causing the death of Dini Sera Afrianti. In a hearing at the Surabaya District Court on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Judge Erintuah Damanik declared that Ronald had not been “legally and convincingly proven” to have committed the crime.

Shock Verdict

The verdict shocked the public and the victim’s family. A bribery scandal surrounding Ronald’s acquittal soon emerged, drawing the attention of Indonesia’s national Attorney General’s Office.

Judges Charged With Bribery

A team from the office of Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes opened an investigation following the verdict, and uncovered alleged bribery behind the acquittal. The probe led to the arrest of the three Surabaya District Court trial judges who were charged with accepting bribes, and of Ronald’s lawyer, Lisa Rahmat, who was charged in connection with the bribery scheme.

Lawyer Arrested For Bribery

The three judges were dismissed, arrested, and detained at the Surabaya Penitentiary, while attorney Lisa Rahmat was held at Salemba Penitentiary in Jakarta.

[Ronald Tannur is the son of former Indonesian House of Representative legislator Edward Tannur (PKB-East Nusa Tenggara II) who has not been implicated in any of his son’s wrong doing, despite being dumped by the PKB following the charging of his son. (https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Tannur)]

Also Read: Corruption: Stunned Investigators Find $63 Million in Cash and 51 Kg of Gold in Home of Former Supreme Court Official

Acquittal Replaced With Five Year Prison Sentence

On appeal, the Indonesia’s national Supreme Court overturned the acquittal and sentenced Ronald to five years in prison. In its ruling, the court granted the public prosecutor’s appeal, nullified the original verdict, and found Ronald guilty under Article 351, Paragraph 3, of Indonesia’s national Criminal Code.

Mother Charged With Conspiracy

The case also implicated Ronald’s mother, Meirizka Widjaja, who was named a suspect by Attorney General’s Office prosecutors. Prosecutors alleged that Meirizka conspired with her son’s attorney Lisa Rahmat to bribe judge/s at the Surabaya District Court. According to the indictment, Meirizka met with the attorney Lisa, hired her as Ronald’s attorney, and provided funds to arrange her son’s acquittal.

This post is based on https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/08/18/13010541/perjalanan-kasus-ronald-tannur-dari-vonis-bebas-terbukti-suap-hakim-hingga. Featured image credit: Cash evidence in the case of alleged bribery in relation to the acquittal of Ronald Tannur. Photo: Jonathan Devin/kumparan.com https://kumparan.com/kumparannews/kejagung-kaget-temukan-uang-nyaris-rp-1-t-and-emas-51-kg-di-rumah-eks-pejabat-ma-23mnxvvc88a.

In earlier news…

Zarof Ricar Defense Plea, Claims of Remorse But Complaints About Treatment in Prison, Kompas.com

By Syakirun Ni’am, Ardito Ramadhan for Kompas.com, June 10, 2025

Jakarta — During a defense submission hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court on June 10, 2025, former court official at Indonesia’s Supreme Court Zarof Ricar admitted to amassing nearly Rp 1 trillion (about $63 million) through a series of bribes, gratuities and illegal fees.

In his written defense submission (pledoi), Zarof claimed he was remorseful for his actions, apologized directly to Indonesia’s national Supreme Court and lamented what he claimed had been harsher treatment than others during his time in detention.

“I realize I have deeply tarnished the name of the Supreme Court and betrayed public trust,” Zarof wrote, according to court transcripts. “To the honorable justices of the Supreme Court, I offer my sincerest apologies. I pray for your forgiveness.”

But alongside his contrition, Zarof also claimed that he had faced different conditions behind bars compared to other inmates—a claim that has stirred debate among legal observers. “I believe I was singled out for harsher restrictions,” he argued, without providing details.

Prosecutors allege that between 2015 and 2022, Zarof orchestrated a network of intermediaries to solicit and collect bribes and gratuities from litigants and corporate clients wishing to influence Supreme Court decisions. The total sum under scrutiny amounts to nearly Rp 1 trillion, including funds stored in domestic bank accounts, safe-deposit boxes and undisclosed offshore holdings.

According to the indictment, Zarof’s scheme unfolded in three main streams: bribes for favorable case rulings, mostly in high-stakes commercial disputes; gratification payments—ostensibly “gifts”—made to expedite legal proceedings; and illegal fees on attorneys and court staff who served as conduits for the illicit money.

During cross-examination, prosecutors walked the court through a paper trail of bank transfers, hand-delivered envelopes and handwritten logs that traced the flow of cash from clients to Zarof’s personal wealth. They alleged couriers would rotate clandestine drop-off points in Jakarta’s Central Business District to evade detection.

In his defense statement, Zarof did not contest the sums alleged by the prosecution, acknowledging instead that “every rupiah” was ill-gotten. He asked the court to consider leniency on the grounds of his cooperation. Zarof has reportedly provided investigators with names of several accomplices within the judiciary and banking sectors.

Legal experts say the case exposes systemic vulnerabilities in Indonesia’s highest court. “When a mid-level official can divert almost a trillion rupiah over seven years, it indicates deeper institutional rot,” noted Nur Aisyah, a governance analyst at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which led the investigation, described Zarof’s admissions as a breakthrough. “This forthcoming trial will not only hold one man accountable but also send a message that no one—regardless of rank—stands above the law,” said a Commission spokesperson.

Zarof’s defense team requested a reduced sentence in light of his cooperation and expressions of remorse, but did not specify what prison term they are seeking. Under Indonesia’s anti-corruption statutes, he faces up to life imprisonment and asset forfeiture.

The court is expected to hear final submissions in the coming weeks, after which a verdict and sentencing date will be set. As proceedings continue, the public is watching closely.

Ronald Tannur was acquitted of injury causing death of his girlfriend Dini Sera Afrianti by the Surabaya District Court on July 24, 2024. He is the son of former National Awakening Party House of Representative member for East Nusa Tenggara Edward Tannur. Edward Tannur was suspended in July 2024 by the National Awaking Party because the party “did not want to be associated with the release of his son”.

This post is based on https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/06/10/12170331/baca-pledoi-zarof-ricar-merasa-dapat-perlakuan-berbeda-di-tahanan; https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/06/10/12254261/kasus-suap-gratifikasi-hampir-rp-1-triliun-zarof-ricar-minta-maaf-ke-ma-dan; https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/06/10/12552481/timbun-uang-hampir-rp-1-t-eks-pejabat-ma-zarof-ricar-minta-maaf; https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/06/10/12552481/timbun-uang-hampir-rp-1-t-eks-pejabat-ma-zarof-ricar-minta-maaf; and https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/06/11/06300931/sesal-dan-pembelaan-zarof-ricar-yang-timbun-uang-haram-rp-1-triliun.

In related news:

• https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/12/15/12255431/penampakan-zarof-ricar-makelar-kasus-yang-timbun-uang-hampir-rp-1-triliun-di
• https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/06/18/16352131/tangis-hakim-pecah-saat-bacakan-vonis-zarof-ricar-keserakahan-bikin-nama
• https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/08/17/21333011/setya-novanto-bebas-bersyarat-kpk-korupsi-pengingat-agar-sejarah-buruk-tak
• https://kumparan.com/kumparannews/kejagung-kaget-temukan-uang-nyaris-rp-1-t-and-emas-51-kg-di-rumah-eks-pejabat-ma-23mnxvvc88a/full
• Corruption: Stunned Investigators Find $63 Million in Cash and 51 Kg of Gold in Home of Former Supreme Court Official, Kumparan, 25 October 2024
• PKB Tak Tolerir Kasus Ronald Tannur: Bapaknya, Edward Tannur Kita Nonaktifkan