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• 5 min read • Indonesia

KPK Arrests Cilacap Regent in Sting Operation Over Project Bribery and THR Extortion

Indonesia's anti-corruption agency KPK detained Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya and 27 others in a Friday sting operation, seizing hundreds of millions in cash linked to project bribes and holiday bonus kickbacks.

Introduction

Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman in a sting operation (operasi tangkap tangan / OTT) on Friday, March 13, 2026. The operation detained 27 people in total — including the district secretary (Sekda), multiple department heads, and private sector individuals — making it one of the larger anti-corruption sweeps in Central Java in recent years.

The Sting Operation

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo confirmed the arrests on Friday evening. “Today the team secured 27 people, one of whom is the Regent of Cilacap,” Budi told reporters. “From the state apparatus, ASN (civil servants), and possibly some from the private sector, and they are currently undergoing intensive examination.”

The detained officials were transported to Cilacap Police headquarters by bus, accompanied by three vehicles with Jakarta (B) and Banten (F) license plates. The group arrived at approximately 4:15 PM WIB.

The Allegations

According to KPK, the case centers on project-related bribery in Cilacap Regency. “There is alleged acceptance carried by the Regent related to projects in Cilacap Regency,” Budi stated. Cash evidence — denominated in rupiah — was seized during the operation, though the total amount has not yet been disclosed.

Officials Detained

Beyond Regent Syamsul, several senior officials were also taken in for questioning:

  • Sadmoko Danardono — Secretary of the Regency (Sekda)
  • Buddy Haryanto — Head of Communications and Informatics
  • Heru Kurniawan — Head of Village Community Empowerment
  • Oktrivianto Subekti — Head of Trade, Cooperatives and SMEs
  • dr. Ichlas Riyanto — Head of Social Affairs

Government Offices Sealed

KPK sealed two offices within the Cilacap Regency Government complex: the Sekda’s office and the Assistant Sekda’s office. The main gate of the government complex was closed at 5:00 PM WIB, leaving the area largely empty.

Central Java’s Third Regent Caught in a Year

Syamsul Auliya is the third regent in Central Java to be caught in a KPK sting operation within the past year. Central Java Provincial Secretary Sumarno expressed concern but emphasized that public services in Cilacap must continue to operate normally.

The suspects were transported from Cilacap to Jakarta by train for further investigation.

Context: THR Extortion

While the official KPK statement focuses on project bribery, local reports indicate the case also involves THR (Tunjangan Hari Raya / holiday bonus) extortion — where officials allegedly ordered subordinates to extort kickbacks from local government agencies ahead of the Eid holiday period. This pattern of extracting “contributions” from civil servants before major holidays is a recurring form of corruption in Indonesian local government.

Sources