Deputy Regent Reveals Last Communication with LAZ Before KPK Arrest

Deputy Regent of West Lombok Nurul Adha has revealed his last communication with the suspended Regent of West Lombok, Lalu Ahmad Zaini (LAZ), before he was caught in a sting operation (OTT) by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Monday (20/7/2026). Adha recounted that his final meeting with LAZ occurred during a plenary session of the West Lombok Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on Saturday evening (18/7). According to him, the two remained together until the agenda concluded. “We were together continuously until the plenary session ended,” Adha said on Wednesday (22/7/2026). The following day, Sunday (19/7/2026), Adha admitted he was still in contact with LAZ. At that time, LAZ had just finished bathing at Senggigi Beach and invited him for lunch. However, the invitation could not be fulfilled as Adha already had other commitments. “On Sunday morning, we were still in contact. He had just finished bathing at Senggigi Beach. We were still in contact. He invited me for lunch, but I happened to have guests, so I could not join for the meal,” he stated. Adha said the last communication occurred when LAZ attended a World Cup viewing party at Giri Menang City Park before news of the KPK OTT emerged. After the incident, he admitted he has not communicated with LAZ since. “After the incident (OTT), I have had no contact with him until now,” he said. He stressed that the communication before the OTT was solely related to work and family matters. According to him, there was never any discussion regarding the alleged KPK operation. “There was nothing related to this (OTT) issue. It was only about work and family matters,” he said. Adha admitted he was shocked when he learned LAZ had been caught in the KPK OTT. He noted that LAZ had always been open and regularly discussed any emerging issues with him, whether related to governance or personal matters. “In fact, whenever there was something, I would communicate directly with him. If there were issues, I would immediately ask him. Even if there were issues concerning myself, I always communicated with him,” he revealed. Following the OTT, Adha said he has only communicated with LAZ’s family. According to him, the communication was to provide mutual support in facing the current situation. The KPK had previously conducted an OTT on LAZ at his official residence on Monday (20/7/2026). During the operation, investigators detained 19 individuals. After intensive examination, the KPK named three suspects: LAZ, the President Director of PT Air Minum Giri Menang (PT AMGM) Sudirman, and the President Director of PT Meconel Sistim Instrument (PT MSI) Alvonsus Gani. The KPK suspects LAZ of accepting bribes related to several projects in West Lombok and engaging in conflicts of interest in the procurement of goods and services (PBJ). In the case construction, LAZ allegedly instructed the Head of the West Lombok Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency, Lalu Ratnawi, to assist Sudirman in securing government projects. Sudirman then allegedly used CV Dyas Karya Konstruksi (DKK) as a project “pool bucket” by borrowing the names of several companies so that CV DKK would not be recorded as the winner. The KPK also suspects that tender requirements were manipulated to ensure the companies used by Sudirman won projects worth IDR 17.9 billion through both tenders and direct appointments. Through the tender process, these projects included the rehabilitation of Gerung City Park in 2025 worth IDR 2.3 billion and the second phase of rehabilitation in 2026 worth IDR 4.3 billion. These two projects made Giri Menang City Park one of the work packages included in the KPK’s case construction.