Analyst Urges Judges to Handle DJKA Ministry of Transportation Medan Case Objectively
The government faces a policy dilemma with no truly comfortable options. The government faces a policy dilemma with no truly comfortable options.
Transport Minister of the Republic of Indonesia for 2019-2024, Budi Karya Sumadi, provided testimony in the trial for alleged criminal corruption (Tipikor) within the Class I Medan Railway Technical Board (BTP), Directorate General of Railways (DJKA), Ministry of Transportation.
In the trial attended virtually on 1 April 2026, Budi Karya firmly denied several accusations cornering him regarding the collection of tactical funds and project interventions.
Budi Karya emphatically refuted the statement of former Director of Road Transportation Facilities at the Ministry of Transportation, Danto Restyawan, who claimed that the collection of funds for the Presidential Election (Pilpres) interests came from his orders. Additionally, he denied the panel of judges’ statement regarding Harno Trimadi’s (former Director of Railway Infrastructure) testimony about directives for work assignments pointing to specific state-owned enterprises.
Executive Director of the National Political Studies (KPN), Adib Muftahul, urged the Medan Corruption Court panel of judges to remain objective and not get trapped in public opinion or political interventions.
“Judges must not adjudicate cases with conflicts of interest, whether personal, familial, or other relationships,” Adib told reporters on Tuesday (7/4/2026).
Adib emphasised the importance for judges to decide cases purely based on trial facts, especially after the emergence of the defendant’s chants regarding alleged fund flows for the interests of the Presidential Election up to the North Sumatra Gubernatorial Election (Pilgub).
“If judges engage in politics in the courtroom, it can damage public trust in the judiciary. Likewise, in deciding cases, a judge must be free from the influence of public opinion or political interventions,” he stressed.
Regarding Budi Karya Sumadi’s presence in the trial, Adib opined that the testimony provided by the former Transport Minister was already clear and sufficient. He assessed that the panel of judges does not need to force Budi Karya’s reappearance in the courtroom.
Moreover, according to Adib, Budi Karya’s position in this case is not that of a key witness determining the main construction of the corruption case.
“Budi Karya’s testimony has already clearly provided his witness statement. The panel of judges should not need to force Budi Karya’s return to give testimony,” Adib concluded.