PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The Clean Transition Coalition, a network of Indonesian civil society organizations, has strongly condemned the recent bribery scandal involving the South Jakarta District Court Chief and three other judges in a high-profile case tied to crude palm oil (CPO) export permits. The coalition said the case highlights not only a deep-rooted crisis in Indonesia’s judicial integrity but also ongoing failures in the governance of the palm oil industry.
At the center of the scandal is a Rp60 billion bribe allegedly paid to secure a court ruling that freed a palm oil corporation from legal liability. Activists say the incident marks a serious setback in the long-standing effort to reform the sector.
“This decision exposed a major loophole in the system,” said Refki Saputra, Forest Campaigner at Greenpeace Indonesia, during a media briefing monitored by Palmoilmagazine.com on Monday (April 28, 2025). “The source of that Rp60 billion bribe must be fully investigated. Was it just one company, or are more involved?”
Refki criticized the government for sidestepping core governance issues—such as transferring illegally planted palm oil estates in forest areas to state-owned enterprises (SOEs)—without addressing the root problems of land-use regulation and permitting corruption.
From within the industry, palm oil expert Mansuetus Darto revealed that data manipulation, the use of shell companies, and bribery remain widespread practices—even among corporations that publicly endorse anti-corruption and sustainability commitments. “Those commitments are often just lip service. In practice, corruption persists,” said Darto, referring to major players like Wilmar and Musim Mas.
Satya Bumi Campaign Manager Sayyidaatihayaa Afra further criticized the hollow implementation of No-Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) policies. She also questioned the credibility of certification schemes such as RSPO, ISPO, and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for failing to adequately respond to the scandal. “This kind of corruption sabotages every step toward sustainable environmental governance. If the certifiers are serious, they should revoke the certifications,” she said.
The scandal also casts a harsh spotlight on Indonesia’s judiciary. According to Grahat Nagara, a legal scholar from STH Jentera, the case reveals how deeply judicial corruption runs—reaching even the Supreme Court. “This is a disgrace to our legal institutions. We’ve seen too many corruption cases in the courts, yet the Supreme Court remains disturbingly passive,” Grahat noted.
The coalition is calling for a sweeping overhaul of both the judicial system and the governance of natural resources. They argue that this case is not an isolated incident but a symptom of broader systemic failures threatening justice, accountability, and environmental sustainability in Indonesia. (P2)
