Former Pati Regent Sudewo Charged with Extorting IDR 2.49 Billion from Village Official Candidates

Former Pati Regent Sudewo has been charged with selling village official positions worth IDR 2.49 billion during his term as Regent of Pati. He was charged with the practice alongside three other village heads.

“Benefiting the defendant Sudewo alias Sudewa and others, namely Sumarjiono, Abdul Suyono, and Karjan, for a total amount of IDR 2.49 billion, by abusing his power related to the filling of village apparatus positions in Pati Regency,” said Public Prosecutor Joko Hermawan from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in court, as reported by detikJateng on Monday (15/6/2026).

Sudewo, who appeared in court wearing a brown batik shirt, was charged with forcing candidates for village apparatus positions in Pati Regency in 2026 to give something, pay, or accept payment with a deduction, or to perform tasks for his own benefit.

“With a total amount of IDR 2.495 billion, or at least around that amount,” he explained.

The prosecutor explained that after being inaugurated as Regent of Pati in January 2025, Sudewo possessed authority over the village apparatus filling process, from granting permission for the filling of positions to approving the appointment of village officials who passed the selection.

“After taking office as Regent of Pati, the defendant Sudewo conveyed to Tri Hariyama, as Head of the Community and Village Empowerment Service (Dispermades) of Pati Regency, that in 2005 vacant village apparatus positions in the Pati Regency area should not be filled, even though the siltap (fixed income) had been budgeted, on the grounds of considering the situation and the leadership transition period,” he stated.