Construction of the Extortion-Gratification Case Involving Riau Governor's Aide
The inactive aide to the Riau Governor, Abdul Wahid, Marjani, has been officially detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in connection with allegations of extortion and/or receiving gratuities. The detention is for the initial 20 days.
“The suspect has been detained for the first 20 days from 13 April to 2 May 2026. The detention is taking place at the KPK’s Branch State Detention Centre (Rutan) in the ACLC Building (C1),” stated Acting Director of Investigations at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, during a press conference at his office in Jakarta on Monday (13/4).
Marjani is charged with violating Article 12 letter e and/or Article 12 letter f and/or Article 12 B of the Corruption Eradication Law (UU Tipikor) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) first of the Criminal Code.
This case is a development from the matter involving Abdul Wahid, Head of the Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing, Settlements, and Land Department (PUPR PKPP) of Riau Province, M Arief Setiawan, and Dani M Nursalam.
Case Construction
In May 2025, a meeting took place at a cafe in Pekanbaru City between the Secretary of the PUPR PKPP Department, Ferry Yunanda, and six Heads of Regional Units (UPT) Regions I-VI of the PUPR PKPP Department, to discuss the commitment to provide a fee to Abdul Wahid amounting to 2.5 percent.
The fee was for the addition to the 2025 budget allocated to the UPT Roads and Bridges Regions I-VI of the PUPR PKPP Department, which originally amounted to Rp71.6 billion and increased to Rp177.4 billion (an increase of Rp106 billion).
Subsequently, Ferry conveyed the results of the meeting to Arief. However, Arief, representing Abdul Wahid, demanded a fee of 5 percent or Rp7 billion.
“Those who do not comply with the order are threatened with dismissal or transfer from their positions. In the Riau PUPR PKPP Department circles, this demand is known as the ‘gangster’s share’,” Taufik revealed.
Then, all the Heads of Regional Units of the PUPR PKPP Department along with the Secretary of the Riau PUPR PKPP Department held another meeting and agreed on the fee amount for Abdul Wahid at 5 percent (Rp7 billion).
The results of the meeting were then reported to the Head of the Riau PUPR PKPP Department using the code phrase “7 sticks”.
From that agreement, at least three fee payments for Abdul Wahid’s share occurred. The payments took place in June 2025, August-October 2025, and November 2025.
During this process, the KPK conducted a Handcatch Operation (OTT) against the related parties.
The KPK team successfully arrested Abdul Wahid at a cafe in Riau. The KPK also arrested Tata Maulana, Abdul Wahid’s trusted aide, near the location.
In parallel, the KPK team also conducted searches and sealed Abdul Wahid’s house in South Jakarta.
“From the search results, the team secured a sum of money in foreign denominations, namely 9,000 pounds sterling and US$3,000, or equivalent to Rp800 million in rupiah,” Taufik said.
“Thus, from the series of covert investigation activities, the KPK team secured a total of Rp1.6 billion in cash, consisting of Rp800 million from EI [Eri Iksan, Head of UPT Region III] and Rp800 million from AW,” Taufik added.
In the investigation of this case, the KPK states that it will continue to trace the flow of money used by Marjani in connection with the receipts that were also carried out.
“In this regard, the KPK also reminds all parties to uphold the same commitment in efforts to prevent corruption,” Taufik stated.