InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – An alleged corruption case involving exports of crude palm oil (CPO) and its derivatives, which investigators say were disguised as palm oil mill effluent (POME), is moving into the trial stage. Eleven defendants are scheduled to appear for their first hearing at the Jakarta Central District Court’s Corruption Court on Tuesday (18/8/2026).
According to ANTARA, as reported by InfoSAWIT on Sunday (16/8/2026), the first hearing will focus on the reading of indictments against all 11 defendants in the alleged corruption case involving CPO exports during the 2022–2024 period.
Jakarta Central District Court spokesman Andi Saputra said the defendants were allegedly involved in a case involving benefits obtained by themselves, other parties or corporations. The case involves 15 companies and, based on an audit by the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP), allegedly caused state financial losses of Rp7.3 trillion.
“They are charged in a corruption case involving benefits for themselves, other parties or corporations (15 companies) related to CPO exports, with alleged state losses of Rp7.3 trillion,” Andi told reporters in Jakarta.
Eleven Defendants in the CPO Export Case
The 11 defendants come from both government institutions and corporate circles.
From the government side, they include Fadjar Donny Tjahjadi, former Director of Customs Technical Affairs at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Ministry of Finance, for the 2017–2024 period.
Also facing trial is Lila Harsyah Bakhtiar, a Functional Policy Analyst and Senior Industry Development Officer at the Ministry of Industry’s Directorate of Forest and Plantation Products for the 2021–2024 period.
Another government defendant is Muhammad Zulfikar, who served as Head of Customs and Excise Services Section VI at the Dumai Customs and Excise Supervision and Service Office, Type Madya Pabean B, in 2021.
From the corporate sector, the defendants include Edy Susanto, President Director of PT Sinar Mutiaranusa Palmindo; Tony, Director of PT Tanimas Edible Oil; and Yusrin Husin, Director and owner of PT Kencana Permata Nusantara.
The other defendants are Randy Tjahyadi Maliwarna, Director of PT Trimitra Agro Jaya; Van Ricardo, Director of PT Surya Inti Primakarya; Felix, Director and owner of PT Agrojaya Perdana; Erwin, Director of PT Bumi Mulia Makmur; and Robin, Director of PT Cakra Kaya Kreasi.
The case relates to government policies during 2022–2024, when CPO and derivative exports were controlled to maintain domestic cooking oil supplies while curbing price volatility.
Export controls were implemented through several instruments, including the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO), export approval requirements, export duties and levies on palm oil products.
Under customs regulations, CPO is classified as a strategic commodity under HS Code 1511. The classification does not distinguish CPO based on its Free Fatty Acid (FFA) content.
As a result, high-acid CPO remains subject to the CPO export control regime and the obligations imposed by the government.
However, investigators allege that the case involved manipulation of the classification of exported commodities.
CPO that was substantively high-acid CPO was allegedly declared as POME or Palm Acid Oil (PAO) under HS Code 2306.
The classification was allegedly used to avoid export requirements applicable to CPO. Through the mechanism, commodities that were substantively CPO could be exported from Indonesia as though they were residue or waste products outside the CPO export control regime.
State Losses Allegedly Reach Rp7.3 Trillion
The alleged irregularities were not merely passive, according to investigators. The defendants are alleged to have known the regulations governing CPO exports and to have played roles in designing, using or allowing the allegedly improper classification mechanism to operate.
Based on the State Financial Loss Calculation Report prepared by BPKP, the case resulted in estimated state financial losses of around Rp7.3 trillion.
Investigators have also seized assets allegedly linked to the case. The seizures included around Rp40 billion in cash, as well as land, buildings, oil palm plantations and vehicles with a combined value of approximately Rp696.5 billion.
With the first hearing scheduled for Tuesday (18/8/2026), the alleged CPO export corruption case involving POME is entering a crucial judicial stage.
Public prosecutors will read the indictments that form the basis for proceedings against the 11 defendants.
The defendants have been charged under Article 603 in conjunction with Article 20(a) or (c) of the National Criminal Code, or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law No. 31/1999 on the Eradication of Corruption, as amended by Law No. 20/2001.
The trial will examine the alleged irregularities in the export activities, including how commodity classifications were used and to what extent the defendants’ actions were linked to the state financial losses calculated by BPKP. (T2)
