Indonesia's Attorney General's Office (AGO) has recently taken decisive action in a high-profile case involving the illegal export of palm oil, detaining three judges suspected of accepting bribes. According to the Jakarta Globe newspaper, AGO’s Director of Investigations, Abdul Qohar, announced on Monday that the judges, Agam Baharuddin, Ali Muhtarom, and Djuyamto, were apprehended late Sunday. They are suspected of accepting bribes in exchange for acquitting companies implicated in the illegal export of palm oil, namely Wilmar Group, Permata Hijau Group, and Musim Mas Group.

In March, these judges had ruled that while the aforementioned companies exported crude palm oil without the necessary government permits, their actions did not constitute a criminal offense under the country’s laws. However, after an extensive investigation that included questioning seven witnesses, the AGO believes it has gathered sufficient evidence to indict the three judges. Qohar stated, "They are fully aware that the payments were intended to secure a favorable ruling," indicating that the judges allegedly received 4.5 billion Indonesian Rupiah (approximately $268,111 USD) in 2024 via former South Jakarta District Court Chief Muhammad Arif Nuryanta, followed by another transaction of 18 billion Indonesian Rupiah.

The detention of the judges brings the total number of suspects in this case to seven. Prosecutors have also identified South Jakarta District Court clerk Wahyu Gunawan, defense attorneys Marcella Santoso and Ariyanto, and Nuryanta as suspects in the ongoing investigation. The charges against Wilmar Group, Permata Hijau Group, and Musim Mas Group stem from violations of a temporary ban on the export of crude palm oil. This ban was initially imposed in 2022 by former President Joko Widodo in response to a nationwide shortage of cooking oil.

The government estimates that the illegal exports resulted in a loss of $10.9 million, as it was forced to subsidize cooking oil prices to stabilize the domestic market. In January 2023, five individuals, including well-known market analyst Lin Che Wei and a high-ranking official from the Trade Ministry, were sentenced to imprisonment terms ranging from one to three years for their involvement in the illegal exports case. Other convicted defendants include Indrasari Wardhana, the former Director-General of International Trade at the Trade Ministry, and business executives Parulian Tumanggor, Stanley MA, and Pierre Togar Sitanggang.

This crackdown underscores the Indonesian government's commitment to tackling corruption and enforcing regulations related to the export of essential commodities. The case highlights the significant economic impact of illegal trade activities and the measures being taken to ensure accountability and transparency in the palm oil industry.