Evidence in Sukoharjo Regent Extortion Case: Precious Metals to Yen

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has disclosed evidence related to the extortion case involving Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani (ETS), who was arrested in a sting operation for allegedly extorting her subordinates. KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu stated that during the covert investigation, the team secured evidence totalling Rp21.2 billion. This amount is an accumulation of Rp6.4 billion in cash, approximately Rp7.5 billion in foreign currency, and 2.5 kg of precious metals valued at Rp7.3 billion. “[Details of the foreign currency] 460,350 Singapore dollars, 30,000 Australian dollars, 31,300 US dollars, 586,000 Japanese yen, 12,210 Malaysian ringgit, 34,585 Thai baht,” Asep said during a press conference at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building on Saturday afternoon. He then added, “As well as 25 pieces of 100-gram precious metals, totalling 2.5 kg, valued at Rp7.3 billion.” Asep further stated that the evidence was secured from the office of the Head of the Sukoharjo Regency Financial and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD), Richard Tri Handoko, a safe belonging to Etik in Wonogiri and Laweyan, and from Nardi, the Secretary of BPKAD Sukoharjo. During the press conference, the KPK also displayed the evidence, including cash in rupiah, precious metals, and notes of yen and baht. The KPK arrested Etik and 17 other individuals in the sting operation on Friday. They were subsequently questioned at the Surakarta Police Station. Of that number, nine were brought to the KPK’s Merah Putih Building. On this occasion, Asep also revealed that Etik used official decrees as a tool to extort her employees. “That Mrs ETS, as Regent of Sukoharjo for the 2021-2025 and 2025-2030 periods, issued a Regent’s Decree concerning the Receipt and Amount of Payment of Regional Tax Collection Incentives and a Regent’s Decree concerning the Recipients and Amount of Payment of Regional Retribution Collection Incentives at the Regional Financial, Revenue and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD) of Sukoharjo Regency for the Year 2026,” he said. “These two Regent’s Decrees were allegedly used as a tool by ETS to carry out extortion of ‘Collection Fee Deposits’ within the BPKAD Sukoharjo environment,” Asep added. Etik allegedly instructed the Head of BPKAD Sukoharjo, Richard Tri Handoko, to collect approximately 40 per cent of the incentives received by several employees at BPKAD. On Etik’s orders, Handoko allegedly instructed echelon III officials within BPKAD to deposit the collection fee deductions to Nardi, the Secretary of BPKAD Sukoharjo, from 2021 to 2026. Once collected, the money was then handed over to Etik. Over those five years, the total collection fee deposits received by Etik reached Rp2.93 billion.