Cilacap Regent Charged with Extorting Subordinates for Eid Al-Fitr Bonuses

The inactive Regent of Cilacap, Syamsul Auliya Rachman, has been charged with forcing heads of regional apparatus organisations (OPD) within the regency government to collect funds intended for Eid al-Fitr holiday bonuses (THR). During a session at the Semarang Corruption Court on Friday, Public Prosecutor Eko Wahyu stated that the defendant instructed the Regional Secretary (Sekda) of Cilacap, Sadmoko Danardono, to gather a specific amount of money for these purposes.

According to the prosecution, the defendant informed the Regional Secretary that he required between Rp500 million and Rp700 million for the bonuses. Following this instruction, the Regional Secretary requested funds from several heads of regional organisations. The indictment identifies 27 organisations that were targeted for these collections. As a result of these demands, a total of Rp568 million was collected for the personal use of Regent Syamsul Auliya.

The prosecution contends that the defendant coerced the heads of these organisations to provide the funds. The Regional Secretary, Sadmoko Danardono, is also facing trial alongside the Regent under a separate indictment. Prosecutors stated that the defendant enjoyed the Rp568 million obtained from the various heads of departments. For his actions, the defendant faces charges under Article 12 letter e or Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, concerning the eradication of corruption crimes. In response to the indictment, Syamsul Auliya stated that he would not file an objection and requested that the trial proceed to the evidentiary stage.