Zarof Ricar Denies Asking for IDR 10-15 Billion to Handle Ronald Tannur Case at the Supreme Court

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – A former Supreme Court official, the defendant in the bribery case involving the acquittal of Ronald Tannur, Zarof Ricar, denied ever requesting Rp 10–15 billion from lawyer Lisa Rachmat as compensation for handling a cassation case at the Supreme Court. Instead, it was Ronald Tannur's lawyer who decided to provide Rp 5 billion for the handling of the cassation in the severe assault case at the Supreme Court.

Nevertheless, Zarof did not comment on the testimony stating that he had twice received money at his home. The first amount was 166,000 Singapore dollars (approximately Rp 2 billion), and the second was 84,000 Singapore dollars (approximately Rp 1 billion).

Zarof revealed this after listening to the testimony of Stephanie Christel (21), the niece of the defendant Lisa Rachmat, during the trial of the bribery case involving the acquittal of Ronald Tannur at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor) on Monday (10/3/2025). Stephanie had interned at Lisa Rachmat's law firm, named Lisa Associate Legal Consultant.

In the trial presided over by Chief Justice Rosihan Juhriah Rangkuti, the public prosecutor presented Stephanie as a witness in the bribery case involving the acquittal of Ronald Tannur, with the defendant being Zarof Ricar; Ronald Tannur's mother, Meirizka Widjaja; and Ronald Tannur's lawyer, Lisa Rachmat.

In her testimony, Stephanie recounted the first time she met Zarof Ricar. She stated that she knew Zarof Ricar, a former official of the Supreme Court, through Lisa. Stephanie also admitted to having visited Zarof's house several times, located in the Senayan area, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. At that time, Stephanie was aware that Lisa was serving as the legal counsel for Ronald Tannur.

His visits to Zarof's house were sometimes made together with Lisa Rachmat and at other times alone. The purposes of his visits varied, such as being invited by Lisa Rachmat, being asked by Lisa to deliver food, ginger, documents, a flash drive, or even to deliver money.

Even so, Stephanie does not remember the exact time she visited Zarof's house. Stephanie admitted to visiting Zarof's house throughout 2024.

When asked by the prosecutor whether her visit to Zarof's house was to take care of Ronald Tannur's case, Stephanie admitted that she only heard discussions regarding the handling of the case at the Supreme Court level.

"What I want to ask at that meeting, for what purpose did the defendant Lisa Rachmat meet with Mr. Zarof Ricar. Is it related to the Ronald Tanur Meeting?" asked the prosecutor again.

"Was there ever a discussion about that?" the prosecutor added.

“Yes, I have,” Stephanie replied.

“What was discussed at that time?” asked the prosecutor.

"Those are the deals," said Stephanie. 

Then, the prosecutor continued to investigate the nominal amount of the case management fee agreed upon by Lisa and Zarof. According to Stephanie, there was some bargaining over the amount of money to handle Ronald Tannur's case at the Supreme Court.

“Between Mrs. Lisa and Mr. Ricar. But I remember the nominal deals. So Mr. Ricar offered the nominal amount of Rp15 billion or Rp10 billion. Then Mrs. Lisa bargained. If I'm not mistaken, it was fixed at Rp5 billion. Then, okay. Well, that's what I remember. I wasn't too focused because I was working on an assignment," he said.

Stephanie also admitted that she had delivered money to Zarof Ricar's house twice. First she delivered 166,000 Singapore dollars and then 84,000 Singapore dollars. The money was delivered several months after Lisa and Zarof talked about handling the case at the Supreme Court.

However, in the trial, Stephanie admitted that she did not know whether the Rp. 5 billion that was handed over to Zarof Ricar's house had been agreed upon as costs for handling the case at the Supreme Court.

Hearing Stephanie's testimony, Zarof denied any bargaining process with Lisa. He also admitted that he never felt like he gave Rp 10 billion or Rp 15 billion to Lisa.

According to Zarof Ricar, the nominal Rp 5 billion also came from or was determined directly by Lisa. However, Zarof did not comment on the handover of money at his house by Stephanie.

"Your Honor, I object to the Rp10 billion or Rp15 billion bargain. The one who determined the Rp5 billion figure also came directly from Lisa," he said.

Meanwhile, Lisa Rachmat only confirmed that the Rp 5 billion did come from her. Meanwhile, Meirizka stated that there was no response because she did not know Stephanie Christel.