Caught in an arrest operation, Fadia Arafiq claims she did not know the rules because of her background as a former dangdut singer

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq (FAR) told investigators that she did not know procurement rules due to her background as a former dangdut singer. ‘In the intensive examination conducted, FAR explained that she has a background as a musician, not a bureaucrat. This is what sister FAR said,’ Deputy for Enforcement and Execution at the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu told reporters at the Merah Putih Building of the KPK in Jakarta, on Wednesday, 4 March. He added that FAR’s remarks as the singer of the song ‘Cik Cik Bum Bum’ contradicted the principle of presumptio iures de iure or the theory of legal fiction. ‘FAR is a Regent or public administrator for two terms, and has previously served as Vice Regent from 2011-2016, so she should understand the principles of good governance in local government,’ he said. When questioned by the KPK, Fadia asserted that she was not a bureaucrat and did not understand the law or governance. She also claimed that technical bureaucratic matters were delegated to the Regional Secretary (Sekda). ‘Sister FAR does not understand the law and governance,’ Asep stated. ‘FAR admitted that technical bureaucratic matters were handed to the Regional Secretary, while she largely carried out ceremonial duties in Pekalongan Regency.’ Earlier, on 3 March 2026, the KPK announced a series of arrests during Ramadan, the seventh OTT of the year. The KPK said it arrested the Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq, together with aides and trusted associates in Semarang, Central Java. The KPK also announced the arrest of 11 other individuals from Pekalongan, Central Java. On 4 March 2026, the KPK named Fadia Arafiq as the sole suspect in a case involving alleged corruption related to outsourcing services or tenaga alih daya and other procurements within Pekalongan Regency for the 2023-2026 budget year.