Deputy Regent of Rejang Lebong Released by KPK After Arrest
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has chosen to release Deputy Regent of Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu, Hendri Praja, despite his detention during the KPK’s dawn raid (OTT) targeting Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobary.
With this decision, Hendri will not be designated as a suspect and has been freed. “That is correct (he will not become a suspect). He has been released,” said KPK Vice Chairman Fitroh Rohcahyanto to journalists on Wednesday (11 March 2026).
The KPK acknowledged that Hendri was not formally charged as a suspect because investigators found insufficient evidence to implicate him in the case. “Because the examination did not uncover sufficient evidence of the individual’s involvement in the matter in question,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo.
Earlier, the KPK announced that Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobary of Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu Province, had been designated as a suspect in an alleged bribery case involving government projects in the district administration. Fikri became a suspect along with four other individuals.
“The matter has been presented to the leadership level and decisions regarding the legal status of those detained have been made. The KPK has designated five suspects in this closed investigation operation,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists on Tuesday (10 March 2026).
The KPK continues to withhold the identities of the other suspects apart from Fikri. The commission has only confirmed that among the five suspects, three are alleged bribe-givers and two are alleged bribe-recipients.
The dawn raid targeting the Regent of Rejang Lebong was conducted on Monday evening (9 March 2026). A total of thirteen individuals were detained from two separate locations in Rejang Lebong Regency and Bengkulu City.
Of the thirteen people detained by the KPK in the operation, nine were brought to KPK headquarters. In addition to Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobary, the KPK also brought other individuals to its offices, including Deputy Regent Hendri Praja, three civil servants from the Rejang Lebong District Government, and four private sector individuals.