The announcement came after a string of arrests, including four judges and two lawyers, by the attorney-general’s office, which says the judges took 60 billion rupiah (US$3.57 million) to arrange for a favourable verdict against three companies, including Wilmar.

The office said late on Tuesday that the suspect will be held for 20 days in a Jakarta prison.

Wilmar told Reuters: “We are now assisting with investigations.”

On Monday, the company released a statement saying “investigations so far have not involved Wilmar Group or any of its employees”.

A court had last month acquitted three companies – Wilmar Group, Musim Mas Group, and North Sumatra-based Permata Hijau Group – on charges of misconduct in obtaining export permits in 2022.

When the corruption charges were first brought against the companies, prosecutors were seeking fines and payments up to 11 trillion rupiah (US$653.4 million).