AGO Awaits Surya Darmadi’s Arrival

KOMPAS

Surya Darmadi, owner of Duta Palma Group, who is a suspect in cases of corruption in palm oil land tenure and money laundering, is ready to undergo legal proceedings at the Attorney General's Office and the Corruption Eradication Commission.

Juniver Girsang, the lawyer of Surya Darmadi, has said the corruption fugitive who allegedly incurred state losses of up to Rp 78 trillion is returning to the country today.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has no knowledge of the planned repatriation of Surya Darmadi, the fugitive in the corruption case involving oil palm estate management and money laundering. However, if this is true, Surya is free to return to the country, as the owner of the Duta Palma Group is not banned from entering Indonesia.

The head of the AGO Legal Information Center, Ketut Sumedana, said when contacted on Sunday (14/8/2022) the center had not been informed of Surya’s plans to return to the country, as the AGO had not received any official notification from the relevant party. Therefore, there was no plan to bring Surya to the AGO upon his arrival in Indonesia.

“There is no such plan. We haven’t even received any letter,” he said.

The AGO had requested only that immigration prevent him from traveling out of the country.

But if he really was planning to return to the country, Surya was free to enter Indonesian territory. According to Ketut, this was because Surya was not banned from entering the country. The AGO had requested only that immigration prevent him from traveling out of the country.

In addition, Ketut added, the AGO had not yet received a statement that Surya was prepared to undergo legal proceedings, which his attorney claimed had been sent to the Attorney General.

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Even if this were true, the AGO would not convey any appreciation. “There is no appreciation. It’s the duty of a good citizen, who must obey the law,” said Ketut.

On 1 Aug., the AGO named Surya Darmadi as a suspect in a case of alleged corruption in oil palm estate licensing and money laundering in Indragiri Hulu regency, Riau, which incurred state losses of up to Rp 78 trillion.

Earlier, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had named Surya as a suspect for his alleged involvement in a bribery case on revising a forest conversion in 2014.

KOMPAS/NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

The head of the AGO Legal Information Center, Ketut Sumedana

When the AGO announced in early August that Surya had been named as a suspect, it had presumed that Surya was in Singapore, but the Singaporean Foreign Office denied this. Meanwhile, the KPK only mentioned that Surya was overseas, and that his precise location was unknown. The National Central Bureau of Interpol in Indonesia stated earlier that a red notice, or request to find and detain an individual for extradition, was issued for Surya in August 2020.

Medical treatment

The news of Surya’s planned return to Indonesia was conveyed by his attorney, Juniver Girsang. According to Juniver, Surya would be returning back on Monday (15/8) after undergoing medical treatment abroad. Upon his arrival in the country, Surya would go straight to the AGO for questioning.

Juniver had also prepared all the documents needed in connection with his client’s case. “We have prepared them all,” he said.

In order to facilitate Surya’s return to Indonesian territory, Juniver had requested the immigration office to revoke the foreign travel ban against Surya.

The letter contained Surya’s statement that he was prepared to undergo legal proceedings.

Juniver also revealed that Surya had sent a letter on 9 Aug, to the AGO, specifically to the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes and the Director of Investigation. The letter contained Surya’s statement that he was prepared to undergo legal proceedings.

Indonesian Anticorruption Society coordinator Boyamin Saiman said Surya’s arrival at the AGO was important so he could provide clarity over the corruption case that allegedly incurred Rp 78 trillion in losses to the state. Only by facing legal proceedings could Surya defend his right.

KOMPAS/KOMPAS/SUSANA RITA KUMALASANTI

Indonesian Anticorruption Society coordinator Boyamin Saiman.

“Frankly, I’m wondering how the loss was calculated. Let’s assume it’s the value of land and harvests so far, but the question is whether it’s that big. The land actually cannot be appraised because it is state-owned. It just needs to be returned. As for the harvests, they involve the costs of seedlings, fertilizer, labor and many other [elements].

“It should be made clear whether the Rp 78 trillion is a net calculation or after deducting the costs spent. Surya Darmadi can make his defense when he returns,” he added.

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira).