BNPB Chief Hands OTT Case Over to Law Enforcement
Jakarta (ANTARA) — National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Chief Lt Gen Kristomei Sianturi has left the handling of a sting operation (OTT) linked to the agency to law enforcement officials.
“We will leave the matter to law enforcement. We will not intervene. Law enforcement officials may process it in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations,” Kristomei said in Jakarta on Thursday.
He said BNPB would respect the ongoing legal process, adding that the case was under the authority of law enforcement officials.
Asked whether BNPB might undertake an internal overhaul following the case, Kristomei said the agency would conduct an internal consolidation exercise. The move is intended to assess the organisation’s condition and ensure the agency is carrying out its duties properly.
On the possibility of replacing officials implicated in the legal proceedings, including BNPB Secretary-General Rustian, Kristomei said replacements could be made if necessary.
“If it is necessary because of the legal process, then [the official] will be replaced,” he said.
Kristomei also said he would follow the applicable legal process regarding legal assistance for those facing proceedings in the case.
“We will simply follow the legal process and see what is best,” he said.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) earlier confirmed that it had conducted a sting operation at BNPB on 13 October 2026. The KPK arrested 14 people, including Secretary-General Rustian and several private-sector individuals.
Rustian, however, was not named as a suspect in the alleged corruption case involving the procurement of goods and services, which was reportedly funded from a ready-to-use budget for disaster response.
On 14 October 2026, the KPK named five people as suspects in the case. One was Bima Setiawan, the younger brother and an expert staff member of former BNPB chief Lt Gen Suharyanto.
Information gathered indicates that the four other suspects are Gabriel Purwaka Sigit, head of BNPB’s Subdirectorate for the Management of Assistance and Emergency Funds; BNPB chief’s expert staff member Richard Erlangga; and private-sector individuals Syifa Nrika Ghifarin and Gery Prasetiawan.