InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry has expressed respect for the ongoing legal process following the Attorney General’s Office naming 11 suspects in an alleged corruption case involving crude palm oil (CPO) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) exports.
Ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri stated that the institution fully supports law enforcement efforts as part of strengthening good governance and ensuring deterrence.
“Regarding the ministry official mentioned in recent reports, since the individual underwent examination several months ago, the Minister of Industry has suspended the person from all positions through Ministerial Decree No. 14 of 2026 dated January 8, 2026,” Febri said in a written statement on Wednesday (Feb 11, 2026).
He explained that the suspension aims to facilitate the legal process while demonstrating the ministry’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
Alleged Manipulation of Export Classification
The Attorney General’s Office has named 11 suspects in the alleged 2022 POME export corruption case, with estimated state losses reaching Rp14 trillion.
Director of Investigation at the Office of the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, revealed that the alleged modus operandi involved manipulating export commodity classifications. High-acid CPO was allegedly declared as POME under HS codes designated for residue or waste, thereby circumventing export regulations in force at the time.
One suspect is affiliated with the Ministry of Industry, while others come from the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and several private companies.
The Ministry of Industry affirmed it will remain cooperative and provide all necessary support and information required by investigators. Moving forward, the Minister of Industry is expected to strengthen internal oversight systems, enhance institutional integrity, and close policy loopholes to prevent similar cases. (T2)
