Anti-Corruption Commission Examines Former Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has summoned former Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi for questioning in Semarang, Central Java.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo stated that the examination took place at the Central Java Regional Office of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). Budi Karya Sumadi was called as part of the investigation into alleged bribery in railway construction and maintenance projects within the Railway Directorate General (DJKA) of the Transport Ministry.

The KPK also summoned an employee of PT Istana Putra Agung with the initials AS as part of the DJKA case investigation.

The case originated from a sting operation conducted by the KPK on 11 April 2023 at the Class I Railway Engineering Centre for the Central Java Region of the DJKA under the Transport Ministry. This facility has since been renamed the Class I Semarang Railway Engineering Centre.

The KPK initially arrested 10 suspects in connection with the alleged corruption involving railway construction and maintenance projects in Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi. By 20 January 2026, the number of suspects arrested had increased to 21, with two corporations also named as suspects.

The alleged corruption involved multiple railway development projects, including the dual-track Solo Balapan-Kadipiro-Kalioso railway project; the Makassar railway project in South Sulawesi; four railway construction projects and two supervision projects in Lampegan Cianjur, West Java; and the Java-Sumatra level crossing improvement project.

The investigation suggests that project winners were predetermined by certain parties through manipulation from the administrative process through to the tender award decision.

Budi Karya Sumadi had previously been questioned by the KPK as a witness in the DJKA corruption case on 26 July 2023. The KPK again summoned him on 18 February 2026, but he was unable to attend due to other scheduled commitments.