Four Defendants in Bengkulu Toll Road Land Corruption Case Acquitted, Prosecutors to Appeal
The panel of judges at the Bengkulu Anti-Corruption Court (PN Tipikor) has delivered an acquittal for four defendants involved in the alleged corruption case concerning land acquisition for the Bengkulu-Taba Penanjung Toll Road in Central Bengkulu for the 2019-2020 period. Prosecutors have announced their intention to file a cassation appeal.
“The charges brought by the Public Prosecutor (JPU) were not proven, neither in the primary nor subsidiary counts. All four defendants are declared acquitted,” stated the Chairman of the Bengkulu Anti-Corruption Court panel, Agus Hamzah, as reported on Monday (18/5/2026).
The four acquitted defendants are:
Former Head of the National Land Agency (BPN) of Central Bengkulu Regency, Hazairin Masni;
Head of a Public Consulting Services Office (KJPP) in Jakarta, Toto Soeharto;
Head of the Measurement Division of BPN Central Bengkulu, Hadia Seftiana;
Lawyer for residents affected by the land acquisition, Hartanto.
The judges noted that the land acquisition process for the toll road project was carried out in accordance with applicable regulations, including presidential instructions and presidential decrees regarding national strategic infrastructure development. The court found no indication of unlawful acts.
The Bengkulu High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati) stated that it respects the court’s decision. However, the High Prosecutor’s Office will proceed with a cassation appeal against the acquittal of the four defendants.
“We respect the court’s decision. After studying the panel’s considerations in this verdict, the Bengkulu High Prosecutor’s Office prosecutors confirm that they will file a cassation to the Supreme Court,” said the Head of the Legal Information Section of the Bengkulu High Prosecutor’s Office, Wisdom S. Sumbayak.
Previously, prosecutors from the Bengkulu High Prosecutor’s Office had sought prison sentences and fines for the defendants. The prosecution’s demands were as follows:
Hazairin Masni: 7 years in prison, a fine of IDR 100 million (subsidiary 60 days), and a requirement to pay restitution of IDR 2.35 billion (subsidiary 2 years in prison).
Toto Soeharto: 5 years in prison, a fine of IDR 100 million (subsidiary 60 days), and restitution of IDR 242.8 million (subsidiary 2 years).
Hadia Seftiana: 5 years in prison and a fine of IDR 100 million (subsidiary 60 days).
Hartanto: 7 years in prison, a fine of IDR 200 million (subsidiary 80 days), and restitution of IDR 4.66 billion.
Prosecutors believed the four defendants were guilty of violating Article 2 in conjunction with Article 18 of the Anti-Corruption Law, in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code. The case involves allegations of land acquisition mark-ups, which were estimated to have caused state losses of IDR 7 billion.