Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Zarof Ricar, a former official of the Supreme Court, was arrested by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in Jimbaran, Bali, on Thursday. The arrest is strongly linked to allegations of bribery involving three judges who acquitted Ronald Tannur, 31, in the high-profile murder case of her then-girlfriend, Dini Sera Afrianti, 28.
Zarof, who has since retired from the Supreme Court, was confirmed to be in custody by Putu Eka Sabana, the Head of Public Relations for the Bali High Prosecutor's Office, on Friday. Zarof served as the head of the Legal Education and Judicial Training Agency of the Supreme Court for ten years, from 2012 to 2022.
Abdul Qohar, the Director of Special Crimes at the AGO, reported that during a search of Zarof's residence in Bali, investigators uncovered nearly Rp 1 trillion (approximately USD 63.86 million) in various denominations of Indonesian rupiah and foreign currencies.
In addition to the cash, authorities seized 51 kilograms of gold bullion related to the case.
Lisa Rahman, the attorney for Ronald Tannur, allegedly attempted to bribe Supreme Court official Zarof Ricar with Rp 5 billion in an effort to secure a favorable outcome for Tannur's case at the cassation level.
"Apparently, the money was still in an envelope at Zarof's home," Abdul Qohar said during the press conference on Friday.
"This indicates a conspiracy to bribe judges in order to secure an acquittal for the case," he added.
The arrest follows a broader investigation into corruption involving three judges – Erintuah Damanik, Mangapul, and Heru Hanindyo – who are accused of accepting bribes during Ronald's trial. Ronald, the son of Edward Tannur, a former member of the House of Representatives from the National Awakening Party (PKB), was accused of murdering his girlfriend, Dini Sera Afrianti, by hitting her with his car after a night out at a nightclub in Surabaya on October 4, 2023.
According to police, Ronald allegedly struck Dini, a 29-year-old widow from Sukabumi, West Java, following a heated argument in the parking lot of Lenmarc Mall in Surabaya. He then transported her to an apartment before taking her to a hospital, where she died en route.
The judges' initial acquittal on July 24 sparked public outrage and criticism from the AGO.
On October 24, the Supreme Court overturned the judges' earlier acquittal and sentenced Ronald to five years in prison for murder after prosecutors appealed the decision. The court found him guilty of violent assault, which can carry a maximum sentence of seven years if the assault leads to the victim's death.
Meanwhile, prosecutors have seized more than Rp 20 billion in cash from the judges, who have now been arrested on corruption charges.