Cilacap Regent Charged with Extorting Rp 568 Million for Eid Bonuses

The inactive Regent of Cilacap, Syamsul Aulia Rachman, has been charged with extorting several heads of Regional Government Agencies (OPD) for a total of Rp 568 million. The funds were allegedly used to finance the Regent’s Eid al-Fitr bonuses (THR).

“The defendant forced the heads of OPD to provide something, pay, or accept payments with deductions, or to perform tasks for his own benefit, totalling Rp 568 million,” stated public prosecutor Eko Wahyu at the Semarang Corruption Court on Friday (31/07/2026).

The indictment alleges that Syamsul, who served as the Regent of Cilacap for the 2025-2030 period, carried out these actions alongside the Cilacap Regional Secretary, Sadmoko, between February and March 2026.

According to the prosecution, in February 2026, the defendant summoned Sadmoko and Ferry Aji Darma to his office to express his need for funds to cover Eid bonuses, which were to be collected from the heads of various regional agencies within the Cilacap Regency government.

Subsequently, Sadmoko summoned three regional assistants and informed them that Regent Syamsul required funds for the bonuses. The assistants were then instructed to coordinate with the heads of OPD to collect the money. The prosecution noted that Sadmoko communicated that the defendant required approximately Rp 500 million to Rp 700 million.

One assistant reportedly expressed objection and questioned why funds were being requested from the agencies, but the Regional Secretary responded that the request originated from the Regent.

The prosecutor also revealed a list of several regional agencies that allegedly handed over varying amounts, ranging from Rp 3 million to Rp 100 million. The funds were reportedly collected through several intermediary officials before reaching the total of Rp 568 million.