'Ghost Money' Trial: Hamdan Kasim Charged with Bribing Three NTB Legislators with Rp450 Million

Three members of the West Nusa Tenggara Regional Legislative Council (DPRD NTB) commenced their first hearing at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) in Mataram regarding a “ghost money” gratification case involving the DPRD NTB on Friday, 27 February 2026.

The accused are Indra Jaya Usman, alias IJU, from the Democratic Party and Chairman of Commission IV of the DPRD NTB; Hamdan Kasim from the Golkar Party; and Muhammad Nashib Ikroman, alias Acip, from the Perindo Party.

The Public Prosecutor first read out the charges against Hamdan Kasim. The Golkar politician is alleged to have given money to three DPRD NTB members totalling Rp450 million.

“He has given or promised something to officials—namely providing Rp100 million to witness Lalu Irwansyah, Rp180 million to witness Harwoto, and Rp180 million to witness Nurdin,” stated Public Prosecutor Budi Tridadi Wibawa when reading the charges on Friday, 27 February 2026.

The money given to the three DPRD NTB members from the 2024–2029 term was intended to ensure they would refrain from or fail to implement certain official duties. Specifically, they were to prevent implementation of the governor’s directive programme for Empowered Villages (Desa Berdaya), as outlined in Governor Regulation No. 6 of 2025.

Hamdan Kasim distributed the funds during June and July 2025. The first recipient was Lalu Irwansyah. The transfer began when Hamdan Kasim contacted Lalu Irwansyah via WhatsApp, inviting him to his residence in Karang Bedil district, Punia subdistrict, Mataram municipality.

During that meeting, Hamdan Kasim told the witness: “Here’s some luck and it’s definitely safe.” He then gave Rp100 million through Lalu Irwansyah’s driver.

The second recipient was Harwoto. At that time, Hamdan Kasim mentioned that newly elected DPRD NTB members for the 2024–2029 term would receive ten project packages from Governor Lalu Muhammad Iqbal’s programme, valued at Rp2 billion.

“He then instructed that these activities would be carried out by a third party and that Harwoto and his team should not interfere,” the prosecutor stated.

Shortly thereafter, Hamdan Kasim contacted Harwoto to visit his home. During that meeting, Hamdan Kasim mentioned that there was Rp200 million in “luck,” but deducted Rp30 million himself, leaving Rp170 million for Harwoto. He explained that this money came from the ten Empowered Villages project packages.

Subsequently, Nurdin received money from Hamdan Kasim. Hamdan Kasim contacted Nurdin via WhatsApp to visit his residence. Upon meeting, Hamdan Kasim explained that there was a gift from the NTB Governor as thanks for the 2024 regional election victory, as Golkar was the supporting party for the NTB Governor.

At that point, according to the prosecutor, Hamdan Kasim told Nurdin there was Rp200 million. However, he deducted Rp20 million for operational costs, leaving Rp180 million for Nurdin.

The prosecution stated that Hamdan Kasim’s actions in distributing Rp450 million to the three DPRD NTB members occurred without knowledge or approval from the NTB Governor, the DPRD NTB leadership, or the regional government budget team (TPAD) of NTB provincial government.

“His actions, by providing Rp450 million to these witnesses, were intended to ensure they did not carry out programmes and would follow his directives,” the prosecutor said. The additional purpose was to prevent the three DPRD NTB members from questioning or implementing, or, if they did implement, to ensure they followed the defendant’s instructions regarding the governor’s directive Empowered Villages programme, which had been replaced with money.

“These actions contravene his official duties and obligations,” the prosecutor emphasised.

For these actions, the defendant faces charges under Article 605 Paragraph (1) Letters a and/or b and/or Article 606 Paragraph (1) of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, in conjunction with Article 605 Letter a of Law No. 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Penalty Adjustments, in conjunction with Article 18 of Law No. 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Offences, as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001.

Separately, Indra Jaya Usman (IJU) is accused of bribing six other DPRD NTB members with a total value of Rp1.2 billion. This was revealed in his charges, which were read by the prosecutor during the Mataram Corruption Court hearing.

The six DPRD NTB members who received money from the Democratic Party politician and Commission IV Chairman were Lalu Arif Rahman Hakim, Humaidi, Marga Harun, Yasin, Muhannan Mu’min Mushonnaf, and Burhanudin. Each received Rp200 million.

“He has given or promised something to officials—namely providing Rp200 million to witness Lalu Arif Rahman Hakim, Rp200 million to witness Humaidi, Rp200 million to witness Marga Harun, Rp200 million to witness Yasin, Rp200 million to witness Muhannan Mu’min Mushonnaf, and Rp200 million to witness Burhanudin,” stated Public Prosecutor Ema Muliawati when reading the charges on Friday, 27 February 2026.

IJU distributed these funds around June and July 2025. The first DPRD NTB member to receive money from IJU was Lalu Arif Rahman Hakim. Initially, IJU requested that Lalu Arif come to his house in Gunungsari, West Lombok, NTB.

“The witness Lalu Arif arrived at the defendant’s residence and was given Rp200 million. The money was related to the governor’s directive programme for Empowered Villages,” she stated.

Subsequently, Rp200 million flowed to Humaidi. When giving the money, IJU mentioned that he could not be involved [with the programme’s implementation].