Cilacap Regent Files Pretrial Motion to Annul Extortion Suspect Status
Non-active Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman has filed a pretrial motion with the South Jakarta District Court (PN Jaksel) regarding the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) decision to name him a suspect in an alleged extortion case. Syamsul is requesting the judge annul his suspect status.
“Declare that the respondent’s action in naming the petitioner as a suspect is an arbitrary act because it does not comply with procedures and is contrary to law, and is declared null and void,” Syamsul’s petition stated, as quoted from the PN Jaksel Case Tracking Information System (SIPP) on Monday (29/6/2026).
Syamsul’s legal team asserted that the KPK’s suspect designation lacked a legal basis. He also requested that the investigation against him be halted and that he be immediately released from detention. “The suspect designation is invalid and not based on law, and therefore the a quo designation has no binding legal force,” the petition read.
The complete petition from Syamsul’s side includes requests to accept and grant the entire pretrial motion; to declare the respondent’s act of naming the petitioner a suspect as arbitrary and legally invalid; and to declare the Investigation Order and the KPK Leadership Decree on the suspect designation as invalid and without binding legal force. It further requests the court to declare the investigation and any seizures conducted by the respondent as unlawful, to order the respondent to halt the investigation and return all seized evidence, and to declare the arrest and detention of the petitioner invalid. The petition also demands the respondent immediately release the petitioner from the detention centre and restore all of the petitioner’s legal rights.
In this case, Syamsul and Cilacap Regional Secretary Sadmoko Danardono (SAD) were named suspects by the KPK for alleged extortion. Both are charged under Article 12 letter e and/or Article 12B of the Corruption Eradication Law. They are suspected of coercing officials within the Cilacap Regency Government to contribute money for holiday bonuses (THR) ahead of Eid. The KPK seized Rp 610 million during a sting operation (OTT) targeting Syamsul and others. Syamsul had reportedly set a target of up to Rp 750 million for the THR funds to be distributed to the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda).