Law

Attorney General's Office Names PT CNI President Director as Suspect…

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 16, 2026•3 min read

The Attorney General's Office has named the President Director and shareholder of PT Ceria Nugraha Indotama (CNI), Derian Sakmiwata (DS), as a suspect in an alleged corruption case involving nickel commodity governance for the 2017–2020 period in Southeast Sulawesi. State financial losses in this case are estimated at Rp401.65 billion based on BPKP calculations.

Key Facts

The Attorney General's Office, through the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes, named Derian Sakmiwata (DS), President Director and shareholder of PT Ceria Nugraha Indotama (CNI), as a suspect on Thursday (15/10/2026).
Case: alleged corruption in nickel commodity governance for the 2017–2020 period in Southeast Sulawesi.
Alleged modus operandi: nickel exports from Kolaka Regency in 2017–2019 without fulfilling the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO); manipulation of nickel content test documents; irregularities in the issuance of export documents and RKAB; alleged payments to state officials.
State losses: Rp401.65 billion based on BPKP's calculation.
DS was detained for 20 days starting October 15, 2026, at the Salemba Detention Center of the South Jakarta District Attorney's Office and was charged under corruption articles.
Funds recovered by investigators: Rp401.65 billion returned from PT CNI, Rp6.21 billion in cash, USD120,400, as well as returns related to alleged bribes from the Southeast Sulawesi ESDM office amounting to Rp194.5 million and from Sucofindo totaling Rp1.085 billion.

Attorney General's Office Names PT CNI President Director as Suspect

The Attorney General's Office (Kejagung) has named the President Director and shareholder of PT Ceria Nugraha Indotama (CNI), Derian Sakmiwata (DS), as a suspect in an alleged corruption case involving nickel commodity governance for the 2017–2020 period in Southeast Sulawesi. The designation was made by the Investigation Team of the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (JAM Pidsus) on Thursday (15/10/2026).

Head of the Legal Information Center at the Attorney General's Office, Anang Supriatna, said the suspect designation was based on the results of the investigation, examination of witnesses and experts, and the collection of evidence. "Investigators have examined 116 witnesses and three experts, and seized 143 documents," he said, while noting that searches were conducted in Southeast Sulawesi, Jakarta, and other areas.

Alleged Illegal Export Without DMO

In this case, PT CNI is alleged to have exported nickel from Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, between 2017 and 2019 without fulfilling its Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) or the obligation to meet domestic market needs. In addition, DS is alleged to have asked Sucofindo Kendari to issue nickel content test documents that did not match the facts in order to meet export requirements.

Investigators also suspect document manipulation of the Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) as well as alleged payments to several parties in the processing of export documents. Previously, investigators had named four individuals and one corporation as suspects in the same case.

State Losses of Rp401.65 Billion

Based on calculations by the Finance and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP), the alleged act resulted in state financial losses of Rp401.65 billion. The Attorney General's Office stated it has received repayment of state losses from PT CNI amounting to Rp401.65 billion.

In addition, investigators secured Rp6.21 billion in cash and USD120,400 from the searches, and received returned money allegedly related to bribes from the Southeast Sulawesi ESDM office amounting to Rp194.5 million and from Sucofindo amounting to Rp1.085 billion.

Detained for 20 Days, Legal Process Continues

DS has been charged under several articles related to corruption and detained for 20 days starting October 15, 2026, at the Salemba State Detention Center, a branch of the South Jakarta District Prosecutor's Office. The Attorney General's Office emphasized that the legal process is still ongoing to uncover the alleged corruption in nickel governance.

The naming of the suspect is part of law enforcement efforts regarding alleged irregularities in the governance of mining commodities. In accordance with applicable legal principles, suspect status does not remove the right to the presumption of innocence until there is a court ruling with permanent legal force.