Cilacap Regent Collected Rp610 Million from Regional Apparatus through THR Extortion

Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman and Regional Secretary Sadmoko Danardono obtained a total of Rp610 million through a fund collection process intended for Idulfitri holiday allowance (THR) distributions.

The funds were sourced from 23 regional apparatus units across Cilacap District. In this case, Syamsul and Sadmoko have been named suspects in an alleged corruption case involving extortion and unlawful receipts within the Cilacap District Government.

“During the period 9-13 March 2025, 23 regional apparatus units in Cilacap District submitted the regent’s request, collected through FER, totalling Rp610 million,” stated Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Execution at the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission), at KPK headquarters in Jakarta.

The collected amount fell short of the original target of Rp750 million. The KPK stated that Syamsul Auliya and Sadmoko initially set variable contribution amounts ranging from Rp75-100 million.

The funds were reportedly intended to be distributed to external parties within the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) in Cilacap District.

The KPK explained that in carrying out their scheme, Syamsul and Sadmoko were assisted by several individuals: Sumbowo (SUM) as Assistant I for Cilacap District, Ferry Adhi Dharma (FER) as Assistant II, and Budi Santoso (BUD) as Assistant III. However, these three names were not included in the list of suspects announced by the KPK.

According to Asep, the initial THR requirement was set at Rp515 million, but the target was subsequently raised to Rp750 million. The KPK noted that Cilacap District has 25 regional apparatus units, 2 general hospitals and 20 health centres. Although the initial target was Rp75-100 million from each apparatus unit, actual contributions ranged from Rp3-100 million.

“If apparatus units failed to submit their contributions, they would be pursued by SUM, FER and BUD according to their respective jurisdictions, assisted by the head of the Civil Service Police and the head of the Food Security Agency of Cilacap District,” Asep stated.

Syamsul and Sadmoko, named as suspects, are alleged to have violated Article 12 paragraph e and/or Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption Offences as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 on the Eradication of Corruption Offences, and Article 20 paragraph c of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.