Anti-Corruption Commission Detains Rejang Lebong Regent and Four Suspects Over Alleged Project Bribery
The Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has formally detained Rejang Lebong Regent for the 2025-2030 term, Muhammad Fikri Thobari, along with four others in connection with alleged project bribery within Rejang Lebong District Government, Bengkulu Province. The detention follows a sting operation (OTT) conducted by the KPK in the region.
Asep Guntur Rahayu, KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution, stated that the case has been elevated to the investigation phase after investigators established sufficient evidence.
“The KPK is elevating this case to the investigation stage with five individuals designated as suspects,” said Asep at KPK’s Red and White Building on Wednesday, 11 March.
Besides Fikri Thobari, the KPK has also designated Harry Eko Purnomo, Head of the Department of Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing and Settlement Areas (PUPRPKP) in Rejang Lebong, as a suspect for receiving bribes.
Three individuals from the private sector have been designated as suspects for offering bribes. They are Irsyad Satria Budiman from PT Statika Mitra Sarana, Edi Manggala from CV Manggala Utama, and Youki Yusdiantoro from CV Alpagker Abadi.
The KPK immediately detained all five suspects for investigative purposes.
“The KPK will detain the suspects for the first 20 days from 11 to 30 March 2026. The detention will be held at the State Detention Centre, KPK Red and White Building Branch,” Asep stated.
For their alleged conduct, Fikri Thobari and Harry Eko, as bribe recipients, are charged with violating Article 12 paragraphs a or b and/or Article 12B of the Anti-Corruption Act in conjunction with Article 20 paragraph c of the National Criminal Code.
The three bribe-givers—Irsyad, Youki, and Edi—are charged with violating Article 605 paragraph (1) or Article 606 paragraph (1) of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law No. 1 of 2026.
The KPK also highlighted the involvement of PT Statika Mitra Sarana (SMS), one of the companies implicated in the case. According to Asep, the company had previously been involved in a corruption case.
“PT SMS was previously also ensnared in a suspected corruption offence involving bribery within Bengkulu Provincial Government in 2017, which was handled by the KPK and resulted in a guilty verdict,” he noted.
The KPK conducted the sting operation in Bengkulu Province and apprehended multiple individuals, including Rejang Lebong Regent Fikri Thobari. The operation was confirmed by KPK Vice-Chairperson Fitroh Rohcahyanto.
“Confirmed, the Rejang Lebong Regent,” Fitroh told journalists on Tuesday, 10 March.
The KPK team apprehended a total of 13 individuals from the operation. Of these, nine were brought to the KPK Building for further examination, including the Rejang Lebong Vice-Regent and various civil servants within the regional government. The operation also resulted in authorities seizing approximately Rp756.8 million, which is suspected to have originated from project bribes and personal needs.