JAKARTA, June 18 -- Food company Wilmar Group said yesterday it had handed over 11.8 trillion rupiah (US$725 million or RM3.1 billion) to Indonesia's Attorney General's Office as a "security deposit" in relation to a case in court about alleged misconduct in obtaining palm oil export permits.

Indonesian prosecutors are appealing a court ruling that had cleared Wilmar and two other palm oil companies of accusation of paying bribes to obtain the permits in 2022. Prosecutors had demanded 11.8 trillion rupiah in fines from Wilmar.

Wilmar said the money would be returned if Indonesia's Supreme Court cleared the company of wrongdoing in the ongoing case, but would be forfeited in part or in full if the court found against the company.

Wilmar...