Four Phrases Sukoharjo Regent Used to Extort Subordinates

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani as a suspect in a case involving the extortion and deduction of civil servant incentive payments. The anti-graft agency alleges that Suryani used coded language, including the phrase ‘match the father’s amount,’ to demand routine kickbacks from officials, continuing a practice purportedly established by her husband during his previous tenure as regent. The KPK estimates that Suryani received IDR 2.93 billion from these levies between 2021 and 2026, in addition to IDR 840 million collected from routine payments by other regional apparatus organisations. Authorities have seized evidence including IDR 21.2 billion in various foreign currencies and 2.5 kilograms of gold.