Ex-Supreme Court Official Arrested with Rp 1 Trillion in Bribery Scandal Tied to Ronald Tannur's Murder Acquittal

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.
Tags: Keywords:Related Articles
Ronald Tannur’s Mother, Attorney Convicted of Bribing Judges in Murder Acquittal Case
Lawyer Lisa Rachmat was sentenced to 11 years in prison for her role in orchestrating and facilitating bribes to the judges.Gold, Cash, and Justice for Sale: Ex-Supreme Court Official Sentenced in Landmark Graft Case
Zarof had received bribes totaling Rp 915 billion (about $56 million) and 51 kilograms of gold during his time at the Supreme Court.Prabowo Hikes Judges’ Pay Amid Bribery Scandal Rocking Supreme Court
Prabowo raises judges’ salaries by up to 280% as a Rp 1 trillion bribery scandal hits the Supreme Court, vowing to clean up the judiciary.Ex-Judges Who Acquitted Murder Suspect Ronald Tannur Face 9–12 Years in Prison for Bribery
Three ex-judges face 9–12 years in jail for bribery after acquitting Ronald Tannur in a murder case involving his girlfriend’s death.Ex-Supreme Court Official Zarof Ricar Accused of Accepting Rp 915 Billion and 51 Kilograms of Gold from Case Brokerage
Prosecutors alleged that Zarof facilitated favorable rulings for lawyers and individuals in their legal cases before the Supreme Court.Former Surabaya Court Chief Implicated in Ronald Tannur Bribery Scandal
Rudi has pledged to form a favorable panel and introduced the presiding judge for the case against Ronald Tannur.The Latest
Trump Says He'll Decide Whether US Will Directly Attack Iran within 2 Weeks
Israel's defense minister threatened Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after Iranian missiles crashed into a major hospital in southern Israel.Danantara, Russia's RDIF to Launch $2.3 Billion Investment Platform
Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) officially joins the list of Danantara's foreign partners.Iraq Looms Large: A Formidable Test Awaits Indonesia in World Cup Qualifier
Indonesia and Iraq have met 13 times, with Garuda emerging victorious only twice -- their last win coming in a friendly match back in 2000.Iranian Missile Strikes Show Israel's Aerial Defense Array Is Not Ironclad
Too many projectiles launched at once can overwhelm the system, which relies on technology and human decision-making to be effective.Russia Ready to Boost Oil Supplies to Indonesia, Putin Tells Prabowo
Putin tells Prabowo that Russia is ready to ramp up oil and LNG supplies to Indonesia.Most Popular
