JAKARTA, Legal Literacy — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that IDR 2.6 billion, suspected to be from extortion related to the filling of village official positions in Pati Regency, Central Java, was collected in sacks before being handed over to Pati Regent Sudewo. The money was said to have come from several collectors, in various denominations, and some were simply tied with rubber bands.
Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, explained that the money was initially collected from a number of parties, put into sacks—said to be green—and then carried like carrying rice.
“So this money was collected from several people. Put in sacks… carried like that. Like carrying rice,” Asep said in a press conference at the KPK, Tuesday (1/20/2026).
Asep mentioned that the money was collected by members of the success team (timses) during the Regional Head Elections or Sudewo's trusted people. According to him, the denominations of the money varied from IDR 10,000 to IDR 100,000. Asep added that the money that looked neat during the press conference was the result of repackaging by officers.
“If you want to see the original, it's from the sack… and there are no ties, some use rubber bands,” he said.
Sudewo and Three Village Heads Named Suspects, Detained for 20 Days
Previously, the KPK named Sudewo as a suspect in the alleged extortion case for filling village official positions on Tuesday (1/20/2026). In addition to Sudewo, the KPK also named three village heads as suspects, namely Abdul Suyono (Head of Karangrowo Village), Sumarjiono (Head of Arumanis Village), and Karjan (Head of Sukorukun Village).
The four were secured in a sting operation (OTT) on Monday (1/19/2026). The KPK stated that the determination of suspects was carried out after sufficient evidence was found.
The KPK is also carrying out detention for the first 20 days, from January 20 to February 8, 2026, at the KPK Detention Center Branch of the Merah Putih Building, Jakarta.
Scheme for Collecting Money for Village Official Appointments
The KPK explained that this case began in late 2025 when the Pati Regency Government would open village official positions in March 2026. In the plan, it was mentioned that there were 601 vacant village official positions.
The KPK stated that Sudewo, along with his campaign team or trusted individuals, discussed the plan to fill village official positions since November 2025, including the plan to request a sum of money from prospective village officials. Several village heads who were part of the team were reportedly appointed as sub-district coordinators.
In the KPK's version of the case construction, two village heads—Abdul Suyono and Sumarjiono—contacted the village heads in their respective areas to instruct the collection of money from the prospective village officials. The KPK stated that the rate was set at IDR 165 million to IDR 225 million per prospective village official, which was reportedlymarked up from the previous rate of IDR 125 million to IDR 150 million.
As of January 18, 2026, the KPK stated that Sumarjiono had collected IDR 2.6 billion originating from eight village heads in Jarken Sub-district. The money was then collected by Sumarjiono and Karjan to be handed over to Suyono and allegedly forwarded to Sudewo.
For their actions, the suspects are charged with violating Article 12 letter e of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 juncto Article 20 letter c of the Criminal Code (KUHP). Law Penal Code (KUHP).
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