Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – The law will prevail over corrupt business interests, President Prabowo Subianto declared on Monday as the government formally received some Rp 13 trillion (US$825 million) recovered from a high-profile crude palm oil (CPO) corruption case. He warned that the state would continue pursuing bad actors to hold them accountable.
The President described corruption cases that severely undermine the national interest, such as the export permit scandal involving palm oil companies Wilmar Group, Permata Hijau Group and Musim Mas Group, could be considered as a form of economic subversion, saying such practices harmed national priorities and made meaningful progress impossible.
Prabowo arrived at the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in Central Jakarta on Monday morning, accompanied by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, to witness the ceremonial handover of the seized funds.
The case involved three companies that illegally obtained export permits for CPO and its derivatives in 2022, during a period of restricted shipments amid domestic shortages. The government recovered over Rp 13 trillion, with Rp 2.4 trillion of the funds displayed in stacks of cash in the AGO hall during the handover ceremony.
At the event, Prabowo condemned the greed of corporate actors who jeopardize national interests for profit, underscoring the immense scale and consequences of their crimes.
"We could have renovated more than 8,000 schools, [or] improved the lives of 5 million Indonesians. I'm trying to illustrate the meaning of this money, money that's almost lost," he said.
Praising the efforts of officials involved in the recovery, Prabowo also warned business leaders across all industries that it was "impossible" for them to get away with corrupt practices in today's interconnected world, reaffirming the government's commitment to protecting national sovereignty and public welfare.
The Supreme Court had found the three companies guilty of corruption for violating a temporary export ban imposed in 2022 by then-president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to stabilize domestic cooking oil prices.
Investigators estimated the illegal exports caused state losses of around Rp 18 trillion, as the government had to heavily subsidize local prices. Prosecutors demanded that the Jakarta Corruption Court find the companies guilty of corruption and impose Rp 1 billion fines on each, along with restitution payments ranging from Rp 900 billion to Rp 11 trillion.
Three judges, later arrested for bribery in April, initially acquitted the companies but prosecutors successfully appealed to the Supreme Court. The court ultimately ordered the companies to pay restitution, with Wilmar paying the largest amount of Rp 11.8 trillion in June, while Permata Hijau and Musim Mas were required to pay Rp 937 billion and Rp 4.8 trillion, respectively.
Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin noted that the Rp 13 trillion recovered was not the full amount, with approximately Rp 4 trillion still to be paid, which the companies have committed to settling through installment plans and other arrangements coordinated with the government.
"Given today's economic situation, we have accepted their request for a payment deferral and installments, but we have asked them to stay on schedule," Burhanuddin said. "It is their responsibility to hand us over palm oil, plantation land or even company assets to cover the outstanding amount".
He went on to say that the AGO would continue to target corruption cases that significantly harmed public welfare, citing ongoing investigations into the salt, sugar and steel industries.
Prabowo also directed a stern warning to powerful business elites who believe they are beyond the reach of the law.
"If greedy businessmen think he can deceive a great country like Indonesia, it is time to show that the state is present, mighty and determined," he said. "If they believe they are too strong for the law, then the law will flex its muscles to show who is truly stronger."
Monday's state asset recovery and President Prabowo's firm remarks have been welcomed by anticorruption experts and activists, who highlighted the "gigantic" scale of the corruption.
However, beyond symbolic ceremonies, experts say the government must tackle systemic weaknesses that enable corrupt practices and pursue meaningful recovery.
"The ceremony must be followed by structural reforms, starting with regulatory improvements, consistent law enforcement and greater transparency," said Bagus Pradana of Transparency International Indonesia (TII).
Efforts should also extend to recovering non-financial losses, including environmental restoration, added Zaenur Rohman of the Gadjah Mada Center for Anticorruption Studies (Pukat UGM).
"Recovered assets, treated as non-tax revenues, go into the state coffers without specific allocations for addressing environmental damage caused by the case. This hampers actual recovery efforts," Zaenur said.