Gerindra Responds to KPK Sting Operation on Kuansing Regent in Position Trading Case

Deputy Chairman of Commission XIII of the House of Representatives from the Gerindra faction, Sugiat Santoso, stated that his party respects the legal process against its cadre, Kuantan Singingi Regent Suhardiman Amby, who was caught in a sting operation by the Corruption Eradication Commission over alleged position trading in his region. Sugiat quoted a statement by President and Gerindra Chairman Prabowo Subianto warning against trifling with public office. He said the president’s statement applies not only to Gerindra cadres but to all officials in the executive and legislative branches. “We, Gerindra, as always mandated by Mr Prabowo as the general chairman of the Gerindra party, respect every legal process, especially those related to corruption enforcement,” Sugiat said when contacted on Thursday (2/7). He also stressed that Gerindra would not discriminate against its cadres entangled in corruption cases. The party, Sugiat said, fully entrusts the matter to the legal process. “In Gerindra, we will not discriminate against anyone who is, shall we say, involved in a corruption case,” he said. According to Sugiat, Prabowo has on several occasions asserted that no one is immune to the law, including those who feel close to power. This was proven by the legal proceedings against the leadership of the National Nutrition Agency in the alleged corruption case involving the priority free nutritious meal project. “Many cases, like the free nutritious meal case recently, where people considered closest to Mr Prabowo, when they are involved in a corruption case, are simply processed according to the applicable legal rules,” he said. The Kuansing Regent has been detained along with Kuansing Regency Regional Secretary Zulkarnain and the President Director of PT Mitra Ideal Consultant, Ardiles. They have now been named suspects and are being detained for the first 20 days from 1 July to 20 July 2026 at the Red and White Building branch of the State Detention Centre. Suhardiman, as the recipient, is charged with violating Article 12 letter a or letter b and/or Article 12 B of the Corruption Eradication Law. Meanwhile, Zulkarnain and Ardiles, as the givers, are charged with violating Article 605 or Article 606 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustments in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of the Criminal Code.