List of Indonesian Regional Heads Linked to Corruption Cases in 2026

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Langkat Regent, Syah Afandin, also known as Ondim, as a suspect in a case involving alleged bribery in infrastructure projects and the receipt of gratuities related to job mutations and procurement of school uniforms. The determination of Ondim's status came after the KPK conducted a sting operation on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

Ondim's naming adds to the number of regional heads suspected of corruption. Eight regional heads have been named as suspects in corruption cases since January 2026. Their modus operandi ranges from extortion and gratuity to trafficking in positions.

Here are some regional heads involved in corruption:

1. Madiun Mayor - Maidi

KPK arrested Madiun Mayor Maidi and eight others in a sting operation on Monday, January 19, 2026. The KPK named Maidi and two others as suspects in the alleged extortion of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds as well as gratuities.

The three suspects stand accused of embezzling funds intended for the second road maintenance project in Madiun. The investigators have evidence from the project that Maidi requested a six percent fee for the Rp5.1 billion project. The money was received from service providers or contractors through Thariq Megah.

KPK also found alleged gratuities totaling Rp1.1 billion for Maidi between 2019-2022. The money is thought to be related to various administrative and licensing matters in the Madiun City Government.

2. Pati Regent - Sudewo

KPK named Regent of Pati, Sudewo, as a suspect in the alleged corruption involving extortion in the filling of village equipment positions within the Pati Regency Government. Sudewo was caught in KPK's sting operation in Pati Regency, Central Java, on January 19, 2026, which led to this status.

KPK also named three village heads as suspects in this case. They are believed to have been Sudewo's trusted aides and field operators. Their task was to collect money from the candidates for village equipment.

KPK suspects Sudewo of being involved in the alleged corruption of the railway line construction project at the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) of the Ministry of Transportation. KPK investigators suspect that Sudewo obtained project funds while he was still serving as a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V.

3. Rejang Lebong Regent - Muhammad Fikri Thobari

Rejang Lebong Regent, Muhammad Fikri Thobari, was caught in KPK's sting operation on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. During the operation, KPK also arrested several other individuals.

KPK suspects Fikri solicited bribes from private parties to meet the needs of the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Fikri the money as a commitment fee for the value of the work project in the Office of Public Works Planning Department and Housing and Settlement Areas of the Rejang Lebong Regency Government.

KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution, Asep Guntur Rahayu, stated that the total project budget in the Office of Public Works Planning Department and Housing and Settlement Areas of the Rejang Lebong Regency reached Rp91.13 billion. It is suspected that Fikri and the Head of the Office, Hary Eko Purnomo, coordinated the project together during a meeting at the regent's residence in February 2026.

They also discussed the commitment fee, approximately 10-15 percent of the project's value.

KPK suspects that three private parties sent a total of Rp980 million in bribes to Fikri through an intermediary. The money was disbursed gradually from February 26 to March 6, 2026. It is thought that the amount of money is intended to cover Fikri's expenses during the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

4. Cilacap Regent - Syamsul Auliya Rachman

Cilacap Regent, Syamsul Auliya Rachman, is a suspect in a case of extortion within the Cilacap Regency Government. He was caught in KPK's sting operation on March 13, 2026.

Asep Guntur Rahayu stated that Sadmoko discussed the gathering of holiday allowance in a meeting with several assistants in the Cilacap Regency. In the meeting, Sadmoko set a holiday allowance target of Rp750 million.

According to the KPK investigators, Sadmoko targeted 25 regional apparatuses, from hospitals to community health centers. 23 of them had paid between March 9 and 13, 2026. The amount accumulated reached Rp610 million.

Asep stated that the holiday allowance was used for personal interests of Syamsul and members of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), including the police, prosecution, and the judiciary. "There are district courts, there are religious courts," said Asep at the KPK's Red and White Building on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

5. Tulungagung Regent - Gatut Sunu Wibowo

KPK named Tulungagung Regent, Gatut Sunu Wibowo, as a suspect in an extortion case within the Tulungagung Regency government on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Asep Guntur Rahayu, explained that the extortion case involving the Tulungagung regent began with the inauguration of several local government officials for the 2025-2026 term.

The Tulungagung Regent asked for money from 16 heads of regional organizations and other officials in his government. His aide acted as an intermediary for the regent's request.

Each head of regional organizations was asked for amounts ranging from Rp15 million to Rp2.8 billion. The total amount requested by the Tulungagung Regent from his subordinates was Rp5 billion. Gatut Sunu obtained a total of Rp 2.7 billion through extortion.

Asep claimed that the money obtained through extortion was used by Gatut Sunu for personal expenses, including buying shoes, seeking medical treatment, and hosting feasts.

6. Muara Enim Regent - Edison

KPK named Muara Enim Regent Edison (EDS) as a suspect in the bribery of the South Sumatra Audit Board (BPK). Regent Edison is also a suspect in the alleged bribery of procurement projects within the Muara Enim Regency Government in South Sumatra.

Acting Director of Investigation at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, explained that the alleged bribery case involving Edison and BPK employees was related to the audit of the Muara Enim Regency Government's 2025 financial report.

The BPK found audit results exceeding materiality thresholds in its financial audit report of the Muara Enim Regency Government. Upon learning the results, Edison ordered the Assistant for the Economy and Development Section of the Muara Enim Regency Government for the 2025-2030 period, Rusdi Hairullah (RSH), to handle the BPK audit report through private individuals named Augusz Dewanggara, also known as Angga (AGG).

Rusdi asked the Secretary of the Muara Enim Education and Culture Office, Abi Nurwardani (ABN), to meet with Angga through another private individual named Mulyono (MYN). "At the meeting, ABN and AGG negotiated the need for a fee to change the BPK's audit findings," said Taufik.

The fee was for changing the audit results, approximately Rp1.6 billion, or taken from one percent of the infrastructure work budget or two percent of the procurement budget from the Muara Enim Regency Government.

Taufik revealed the receipt of Rp500 million that Abi divided into two distribution clusters in Jakarta and South Sumatra. The money was divided, including around Rp100 million for Angga and Rp100 million for Mulyono as intermediaries for a meeting in Jakarta. "Meanwhile, an amount of around Rp300 million was handed over by ABN to South Sumatra, part of which was for EDS," he said.

Furthermore, Taufik explained that Angga had previously received a bribe of Rp50 million from Abi. Taufik revealed that the KPK's Deputy of Enforcement and Execution team would trace the continued flow of the money. He stated that his institution had also seized four-wheel SUVs, documents, and electronic evidence in this case.

7. Kuantan Singingi Regent - Suhardiman Amby

Kuantan Singingi Regent, Suhardiman Amby, surrendered to KPK on Tuesday night, June 30, 2026. He came with the Secretary of the Kuantan Singingi Regency Government, Zulkarnaen, after KPK investigators and officers had been looking for them during a sting operation in the Kuantan Singingi Regency, Riau, since Monday, June 29, 2026.

KPK stated that there were 914 members of the Village Unit Cooperatives (KUD) in the Kuantan Singingi Regency, Riau, who were asked for money by Regent Suhardiman Amby. The request for funds was allegedly related to the release of Limited Production Forest (HPT) areas in the Kuantan Singingi region.

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo revealed that the Kuantan Singingi Regency Government was suspected of intending to release 1,828 hectares of HPT. "The investigators then explored additional evidence related to the collection of money done by Mr. SA," said Budi at the KPK's Red and White Building, South Jakarta, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

Budi stated that Suhardiman allegedly collected money from 914 KUD members in Singapore dollars.

8. Langkat Regent - Syah Afandin

Langkat Regent, Syah Afandin, was arrested and detained by KPK in early July 2026 during a sting operation. He was declared a suspect in a case involving alleged bribery in infrastructure projects and the receipt of gratuities related to the mutation of positions and the procurement of school uniforms.

"KPK also found that there were other alleged gratuity receipts by SAF totaling at least Rp3.5 billion," said KPK's Acting Director of Investigation, Achmad Taufik Husein, in a press conference at the KPK Building, South Jakarta, on Friday night, July 3, 2026.

Investigators found three receipts for gratuities from Ondim. First, gratuities related to mutations and job assignments within the Education Department and the district chief positions in the Langkat Regency.

Second, gratuities related to the appointment of elementary and junior high school principals. Third, gratuities allegedly from the procurement of elementary school uniforms.