Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo (GSW) extorted 16 heads of\nregional government agencies (OPD) or officials using a terrifying new\nmodus operandi. The KPK stated that Gatut used a \u2018magic letter\u2019 to\nextract tribute.<\/p>\n
This was conveyed by KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution, Asep\nGuntur Rahayu, during a press conference at the KPK in Jakarta, quoted\non Monday (13\/4\/2026). Gatut was arrested by the KPK in a hand-catching\noperation (OTT) related to the extortion case.<\/p>\n
Gatut has been designated as a suspect. Not only Gatut, but his aide,\nDwi Yoga Ambal (YOG), has also been named a suspect.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe KPK then elevated the case to the investigation stage and\ndesignated two suspects,\u201d Asep Guntur said.<\/p>\n
Gatut ordered his aide to continuously collect quotas from the OPDs\nthat had not yet paid the requested amounts. The aide played a role in\ncollecting and gathering the quotas.<\/p>\n
Asep revealed that the extortion had been ongoing since December\n2025. The extorted officials admitted to being extremely distressed by\nGatut\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo up to now, it\u2019s only been about four months or so. So far, they\nhave reached the stage of extreme distress. Extremely distressed by what\nwas conveyed or the practices carried out by Mr GSW. In the end, they\ncouldn\u2019t do anything because they were locked in by that letter,\u201d Asep\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In carrying out his extortion, Asep said, Gatut used a new modus\noperandi by threatening to show the \u2018magic letter\u2019 to the public, the\ncontents of which suggested that these OPD heads were resigning. Not\nonly as OPD heads, but also from their positions as civil servants\n(ASN).<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they refuse, that same day they could be dismissed or resign. So\nif that is issued or that letter is shown to the public or society as if\nthey themselves resigned as OPD heads, officials, and also as ASN,\u201d Asep\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is sudden, not just as OPD heads, but resigning as ASN too. So\nthe threat used to bind them is actually very severe. They have reached\nthe point of distress,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Here, the role of Gatut\u2019s aide, Dwi, was also crucial. In addition to\ncollecting quotas from OPD heads, he arranged budget usage.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo in this incident, without the role of YOG, the criminal act by\nGSW could not have been realised. Because he was the one from the start\nwho called the OPD heads to sign the letter, to recording every part\nconsidered as debt, the money part. So every time the regent or the\nrogue regent mentioned, for example, there will be an addition in PUPR\nof Rp 2 billion. That means Rp 1 billion is recorded as debt from the\nPUPR department head to GSW,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Asep said the method used by Gatut was newly discovered by the KPK.\nAccording to Asep, the modus operandi was very terrifying.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, this is perhaps a little addition, so as far as we are\nconcerned, this is a new finding. A new finding like this, bound by that\nletter. So we are also on alert, lest this pattern be imitated. Bound in\nthe form of a statement letter, just add the date, right,\u201d Asep\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you, for example, back out, well, just date it, that date. The\nletter becomes valid, that statement letter. Like this, this is very\nterrifying,\u201d he added.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/terrifying-modus-operandi-of-tulungagung-regent-magic-letter-to-extract-tribute-1776066663", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }