The investigation comes after the Supreme Court upheld a lower court's imprisonment of executives at those companies last month for manipulating documents or submitting false data to obtain export permits.

Indonesia, which accounts for about 60 percent of the global palm oil supply, imposed tight export measures last year, including a three-week ban on shipments, to try to secure domestic supply to rein in soaring local cooking oil prices.

Prosecutors said the executives had acted on behalf of their companies, the Singapore-based Wilmar Group and Musim Mas Group and the Medan-based Permata Hijau Group, and that the investigation into the firms sought to recover state losses.

"Those three companies must be held responsible," AGO spokesperson Ketut Sumedana said in a statement issued on Thursday.

Musim Mas Group said on Friday it respected the legal proceedings and would fully cooperate with the authorities. Wilmar Group said no official charges had been filed against it and that it was seeking clarification on the issue.

Permata Hijau did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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