KPK Awaits Confirmation from Budi Karya for Rescheduled Witness Examination

Jakarta — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is awaiting confirmation from former Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi (BKS) to reschedule his witness examination in a case involving alleged bribery in the construction and maintenance of railway lines within the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) of the Transportation Ministry.

“We are still waiting for confirmation because witness statements are needed to uncover the case,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Wednesday.

As a result, Budi stated that the KPK will continue coordinating with the former transportation minister regarding the rescheduled examination timing. “The investigators continue to coordinate for the exact timing of the examination, given that the witness previously requested a rescheduling,” he explained.

The case was initially uncovered following a raid conducted by the KPK on 11 April 2023 at the Class I Railway Engineering Hall in the Central Java Region of DJKA, the Ministry of Transportation. This facility has since been renamed the Class I Railway Engineering Hall Semarang.

The KPK subsequently named 10 initial suspects who were detained in connection with the alleged corruption case involving railway line construction and maintenance projects in Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi. By 20 January 2026, the KPK had named and detained a total of 21 suspects and designated two corporations as suspects in the case.

The alleged corruption offences occurred in connection with several projects: the construction of a dual railway line from Solo Balapan-Kadipiro-Kalioso; railway line construction in Makassar, South Sulawesi; four railway line construction projects and two supervision projects in Lampegan Cianjur, West Java; and cross-border railway level crossing improvements in Java-Sumatra.

In the development and maintenance of these projects, it is alleged that the selection of project contractors was manipulated through a rigged process spanning from administrative procedures through to tender award determination. Budi Karya Sumadi was previously examined by the KPK in connection with this matter, with his last witness examination occurring on 26 July 2023. On 18 February 2026, the KPK called Budi Karya Sumadi again, but he was unable to attend as he had a prior commitment.