Ade Kuswara Kunang Case: Two Experts Assess It Was Not a Sting Operation, but Purely a Debt Matter

Two expert witnesses presented by the legal team of suspended Bekasi Regent Ade Kuswara Kunang have stated that the corruption case against him does not fulfil the characteristics of a sting operation. They also questioned whether the elements of bribery had been met, suggesting the matter was purely a loan or debt arrangement. The testimony was delivered during a hearing at the Corruption Court in Bandung, presided over by Chief Judge Novian Saputra. The defence team called criminal law expert Prof Dr Chairul Huda from the University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta and civil law and procurement expert Prof Dr Y Sogar Simamora from Airlangga University. Prof Huda argued that the prosecution’s indictment depicted the case as a sting operation, but trial facts showed otherwise. He noted that in bribery cases, there must be a direct link between the payment and the recipient’s authority, which he claimed was absent as the defendant had no authority to determine the winner of the procurement tender. He also highlighted that the giver and receiver were apprehended in different locations, a scenario inconsistent with a typical sting operation. Prof Simamora urged the panel of judges to carefully assess the validity of the loan agreement central to the case, stating that without a strong connection to the procurement process, the element of bribery is not met. The defence team, led by Yunaniar SH, concluded that the relationship between their client and the other party was a civil matter of debt, with repayments made in instalments. The trial was adjourned until Monday, 20 July 2026.