Evidence in Sukoharjo Regent Extortion Case: Precious Metals to Yen

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed the evidence in the extortion case involving Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani (ETS), who allegedly extorted her subordinates before being arrested in a sting operation (OTT).

Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu said that during the covert investigation, the team secured evidence worth a total of Rp21.2 billion.

That figure comprises Rp6.4 billion in cash, around Rp7.5 billion in foreign currency, and precious metals weighing 2.5 kg valued at Rp7.3 billion.

“[The foreign currency breakdown is] 460,350 Singapore dollars, 30,000 Australian dollars, 31,300 US dollars, 586,000 Japanese yen, 12,210 Malaysian ringgit, and 34,585 Thai baht,” Asep said at a press conference at the KPK’s Merah Putih building on Saturday (11 January) at midday.

He added: “As well as 25 pieces of 100-gram precious metal, totalling 2.5 kg, valued at Rp7.3 billion.”

Asep said the evidence was seized from the office of Richard Tri Handoko, head of the Sukoharjo Regency Financial and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD), from safes belonging to Etik in Wonogiri and Laweyan, and from Nardi, the BPKAD secretary.

At the press conference, the KPK also displayed the evidence, including rupiah banknotes, precious metals, and wads of yen and baht.

The KPK arrested Etik and 17 others in the sting operation on Friday. They were questioned at Surakarta City Police Headquarters, and nine of them were taken to the Merah Putih building.

Asep also revealed that Etik used regental decrees as instruments to extort her employees.

“Ms ETS, as Sukoharjo Regent for the 2021-2025 and 2025-2030 periods, issued a Regent’s Decree on the Recipients and Amount of Incentive Payments for Local Tax Collection, and a Regent’s Decree on the Recipients and Amount of Incentive Payments for Local Levy Collection at the Sukoharjo Regency BPKAD for 2026,” he said.

“Both decrees are suspected to have been used by ETS as tools to commit extortion in the form of ‘collection fee deposits’ within the Sukoharjo BPKAD,” Asep added.

Etik allegedly instructed BPKAD head Richard Tri Handoko to collect around 40 per cent of the incentives received by a number of BPKAD employees.

On Etik’s orders, Handoko allegedly directed third-echelon officials within the BPKAD to hand over these deductions to Nardi, the BPKAD secretary, from 2021 to 2026.

Once collected, the money was passed on to Etik. Over those five years, the total collection fee deposits received by Etik reached Rp2.93 billion.