Chairman of the Cassation Panel in the Ronald Tannur Case Admits that “Dissenting Opinion” Was Not Influenced by Zarof Ricar

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Soesilo admitted to having met with the defendant in the bribery case of the acquittal of Ronald Tannur, Zarof Ricar, at a professor inauguration event at Makassar State University, South Sulawesi. During that meeting, Zarof reportedly requested something from him regarding the cassation case of Ronald Tannur. Nevertheless, Soesilo denied that the meeting had influenced his decision in the cassation of Ronald Tannur.

The reason for making a dissenting opinion is that Ronald Tannur was not proven guilty of committing a crime as charged by the public prosecutor. He argued that the witnesses in the trial could not prove what was charged.

This was conveyed by Supreme Court Justice Soesilo when he was presented as a witness in the ongoing trial of the alleged bribery case concerning Ronald Tannur, with defendants Lisa Rachmat and Zarof Ricar at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Monday (21/4/2025). Lisa was Ronald Tannur's legal representative when assisting him in avoiding punishment. Meanwhile, Zarof was a former official at the Supreme Court who handled the bribery to free Ronald Tannur from punishment.

In addition to Soesilo, the public prosecutor also presented two other witnesses, namely Abdul Latif, a retired ad hoc judge at the Supreme Court, and Santi, the Head of the Division of Development, Supervision, and Control of Population Administration at the DKI Jakarta Population and Civil Registration Office.

The witnesses were examined alternately in a session presided over by Chief Judge Rosihan Juhriah Rangkuti. Rosihan was accompanied by associate judges Purwanto S Abdullah and Sigit Herman Binaji.

The public prosecutor asked about the alleged influence of Zarof Ricar in the dissenting opinion made by the Chief Justice of the Cassation Panel Soesilo in the cassation case of Ronald Tannur. The cassation legal effort at the Supreme Court was made by the public prosecutor after the panel of judges at the Surabaya District Court acquitted Ronald Tannur.

Ronald Tannur is a convicted individual in the case of the assault that led to the death of Dini Sera Afrianti. The composition of the cassation panel consists of Soesilo as the presiding judge, with Ainal Mardhiah and Sutarjo as associate judges. The two other cassation judges, Ainal Mardhiah and Sutarjo, stated that Ronald Tannur was proven guilty in the case.

Soesilo admitted that he did convey a different opinion in Ronald Tannur's cassation decision. In the dissenting opinion, he stated that Ronald Tannur was not proven guilty of committing a crime as charged by the public prosecutor. The decision was because the trial witnesses could not show that Ronald Tannur was guilty.

The differing opinion was also stated not to be due to any influence from his meeting with Zarof Ricar or public scrutiny regarding the Ronald Tannur case.

Before the cassation verdict was read, the cassation panel had held a deliberation on September 22, 2024. In that deliberation, the cassation panel found Ronald Tannur guilty of committing assault resulting in the victim's death. Nevertheless, Soesilo stated that he expressed a differing opinion in the cassation verdict.

"For the witness himself, talking about the witness's belief, that was not proven?", asked the prosecutor.

“Yes,” answered Soesilo.

The prosecutor confirmed whether the differing opinion in the cassation ruling of Ronald Tannur was due to having met Zarof Ricar at a ceremony for the inauguration of Professor Herri Swantoro at the State University of Makassar, South Sulawesi, on September 27, 2024. Soesilo denied this.

Soesilo acknowledged that he indeed met with Zarof Ricar at the event. The meeting occurred unplanned as he was invited to attend the inauguration of the professor.

"So it was unintentional, after I finished shaking hands with the professor, I then met Mr. Zarof in that room, that's all," said Soesilo.

Soesilo stated that he does not remember what Zarof Ricar conveyed to him regarding the cassation case of Ronald Tannur. He only recalls his statement to Zarof Ricar at that time.

I only say this, we will see later, we will see the facts, how the law applies. If it is proven, I will impose a penalty. If it is not proven, I will acquit, and I will not be influenced by public opinion. I said that firmly and in a loud tone. That's all I said.

"When Zarof approached the witness, what information was conveyed to the witness?" asked the prosecutor.

"To be honest, I don't remember, Sir, but the investigator said that Mr. Zarof mentioned the case. I just said this, we will see later, we will see the facts, how the law applies. If it is proven, I will impose a penalty. If it is not proven, I will acquit, and I will not be influenced by public opinion. I said that firmly and in a loud tone. That's all I said," Soesilo stated.

Soesilo admitted that there was no mention of the amount of money conveyed by Zarof to him during that meeting. He also did not know about the selfie of himself with Zarof, which was apparently sent to Lisa Rachmat, Ronald Tannur's lawyer.

"At that meeting, did the witness hear the defendant say a nominal amount or what?" asked the prosecutor.

“Never at all,” answered Soesilo.

Soesilo also admitted that he never discussed matters other than Ronald Tannur with Zarof Ricar. This includes meetings when Zarof Ricar was still serving at the Supreme Court as well as after Zarof had retired.

"Before the Tannur case, did the defendant Zarof ever ask the witness for assistance regarding another case? Was that assistance ultimately provided or did the witness refuse?" said the prosecutor.

“Never,” said Soesilo.

Meanwhile, the defendant Zarof did not provide a response or rebuttal to Soesilo's testimony. As for the defendant Lisa Rachmat, she claimed not to know Soesilo.

In this case, Zarof Ricar and Lisa Rachmat were charged with conspiracy, assistance, and attempted bribery of Supreme Court Justice Soesilo, who is the chairman of the cassation panel Ronald Tannur.

Zarof is attempting to meet the request of Ronald Tannur's legal counsel, Lisa Rachmat, to influence the cassation ruling so that her client remains free as per the decision of the Surabaya District Court. Lisa is reported to have prepared an amount of Rp 6 billion, with a breakdown of Rp 5 billion for the cassation panel and Rp 1 billion for Zarof.