Former Muara Enim Education Head Questioned by KPK Again in Regent Edison Bribery Case
The KPK has once again interrogated the former Head of Education and Culture of Muara Enim Regency, Rusdi Hairullah, who currently serves as Assistant II of the Muara Enim Regency Government. This marks the third interrogation for Rusdi after he was caught in a sting operation (OTT) alongside the inactive Regent of Muara Enim, Edison.
“A witness in the alleged corruption involving bribery in the procurement of goods and services in Muara Enim Regency,” KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo told reporters on Monday (31/8/2026).
Budi stated that Rusdi was examined alongside another witness from the private sector, namely Yunita Setra Diharja, a Finance Staff member at PT MSA. The second interrogation took place at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Kuningan, South Jakarta.
Rusdi was one of the individuals detained by the KPK during the sting operation against Regent Edison. However, Rusdi was not named a suspect and was permitted to return home.
Nevertheless, according to the case construction revealed by the KPK during a press conference at the Merisht Putih Building on Tuesday (9/6), Rusdi was identified as one of the parties receiving bribes. It is alleged that Rusdi, in his capacity as the Head of Department at the time, obtained Rp 500 million through extortion of a private party.
Acting Director of Investigations at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, explained the reasoning behind not detaining Rusdi, noting that investigators have not yet found sufficient preliminary evidence.
“For detention efforts, it must be based on provisions requiring sufficient evidence and strong suspicion of criminal activity,” Taufik explained.
“This means that at the time of the sting operation, the elements of the crime were only met for the four individuals who were subsequently detained,” he added.
However, Taufik stated that the possibility of further investigation remains open, including searching for other evidence to strengthen the allegations against Rusdi’s involvement as the former Head of Education and Culture.
“Therefore, whether the role of this former official, Mr Rusdi, will be developed in the next process remains to be seen,” he said.
“But for now, the results of the examinations conducted by the investigators only meet the elements required to hold these four suspects accountable,” he concluded.
As information, Regent Edison was arrested by the KPK in a sting operation on Monday (8/6). The KPK subsequently named Edison a suspect on Tuesday (9/6).
In addition to Edison, the KPK has named three others as suspects:
Regent of Muara Enim, Edison
Secretary of the Department of Education and Culture (2026), Abi Nurwardani
The Regent’s nephew, Adi Triyadi
Marketing of PT Millenium Solusi Abadi, Cory Erin Hardi
The KPK suspects Edison received a bribe of Rp 500 million from Cory, which was allegedly delivered through Abi Nurwardani.
The bribe was allegedly intended to maintain ‘good relations’ as PT MSA, a supplier of smart boards, had secured a procurement project from the Muara Enim Regency Government in 2025. Additionally, Abi allegedly received payments from other partners within the department. The KPK has seized approximately Rp 1.9 billion in this case.
On Wednesday (10/6), the KPK also conducted a sting operation involving five civil servants from the BPK. The KPK subsequently named five suspects in a bribery case involving payments from Edison’s side to the BPK. The KPK revealed that the BPK side requested Rp 1.6 billion to alter audit results.
Five individuals have been named suspects in this case:
Angga, representing the private sector
Titin Rita Lestari, a civil servant/Technical Controller
Edison, Regent of Muara Enim
Cory Erin Hardi, Marketing of PT Millenium Solusi Abadi
Fika, Director of PT Millenium Solusi Abadi