Former Enrekang Chief Prosecutor Faces Four-Year Prison Sentence in Extortion Case
Former Enrekang District Prosecutor’s Office head Padeli has been sentenced to four years in prison in a case of alleged extortion related to the handling of a corruption investigation into the management of funds at the National Alms Agency (Baznas) in Enrekang Regency, South Sulawesi. During the trial at the Makassar District Court, the public prosecutor stated that the defendant was legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing criminal acts of corruption through extortion. “Sentencing the defendant, Padeli, to four years in prison, reduced by the time already spent in detention, with an order for the defendant to remain in custody,” the prosecutor said, as quoted from the Makassar District Court’s Case Tracking System on Monday (22/6).
In addition to the prison term, the prosecutor demanded that the former Enrekang chief prosecutor pay a fine of Rp250 million, to be settled within one month after the verdict becomes legally binding. If the fine is not paid within that period, the prosecutor stated that the convict’s assets or income would be seized and auctioned to cover the fine. Should the seizure and auction be insufficient or impossible to execute, the fine would be replaced by an additional 90 days of imprisonment. The prosecutor also demanded that the defendant pay restitution amounting to Rp930 million. If the convict fails to pay the restitution within one month of the final verdict, he faces a further two-year prison sentence.
The case chronology reveals that Padeli allegedly requested and received a total of Rp930 million to halt or mitigate the legal proceedings. Serving as the Head of the Enrekang Prosecutor’s Office from October 2023 to 2025, Padeli, along with an archivist named Sunarti Lewang, is accused of abusing his authority by soliciting money from Junwar and Syawal. From Junwar, the former Chairman of Baznas Enrekang, Padeli allegedly received a total of Rp410 million in stages between May and July 2025, facilitated by Sunarti. Junwar, fearing the investigation, sought ways to stop the case and was asked to prepare between Rp100 million and Rp150 million. To meet this demand, Junwar and other Baznas commissioners reportedly borrowed Rp100 million from zakat funds, intending to repay it through salary deductions. Padeli subsequently requested additional sums of Rp250 million, Rp25 million, and Rp15 million, all of which were handed over via Sunarti at the official residence of the Enrekang Chief Prosecutor.
The case came to light after a prosecutor investigating the matter learned of the payments and sought clarification from Baznas. As the allegations surfaced, Padeli was indicted for attempting to cover up his actions by ordering Sunarti to return Rp300 million to Junwar, instructing that the money be reported as a recovery of state losses. Because the amount was insufficient, Junwar was forced to borrow an additional Rp110 million to complete the total of Rp410 million, which was then deposited into the Enrekang Prosecutor’s Office holding account. Furthermore, Padeli was also indicted for soliciting money from Syawal, the former acting chairman of Baznas Enrekang. The prosecution stated that, through Sunarti, Padeli requested a total of Rp820 million under the pretext of helping to ease Syawal’s legal troubles. The demands were made in stages, with money handed over at various locations including the Enrekang Library Office, the Muhammadiyah University of Enrekang campus, a restaurant, and the entrance gate to Enrekang Regency. The prosecutor declared the defendant guilty of violating Article 12 letter e in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Corruption, in conjunction with Article 20 letter a of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, in conjunction with Article II paragraph (8) of the appendix to number 28 of Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning criminal adjustments, as stipulated in the first alternative indictment.