KPK Claims Cilacap Regent Extorted Holiday Allowances Since Eid 2025

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) alleged that Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman (AUL) extorted regional work units (satker) within the Cilacap regency government for holiday allowance (THR) purposes dating back to Eid 2025.

KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu explained this emerged during intensive investigations following the commission’s hand-caught operation apprehending AUL and other suspects on Friday, 13 March.

“So the provision of this holiday allowance was not only for the Eid celebration in this 2026 year, but it also already occurred in 2025,” Asep stated during a press conference at KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Saturday evening, 14 March.

However, he noted that at that time, the practice remained unmonitored by the anti-corruption commission. Additionally, the KPK had not received any reports that the Cilacap Regent had instructed subordinates to collect money illegally.

“So this was already recurring, and even if it were not hand-caught this year, there is a strong likelihood it would be repeated thereafter,” Asep said.

Asep explained the case originated from a public complaint report. According to the allegation, AUL instructed Cilacap Regency Regional Secretary Sadmoko Danardono (SAD) to collect money for the purpose of providing holiday bonuses to himself and external parties.

“By external parties, we mean Forkopimda, the regional leadership communication forum within the Cilacap municipal government,” he stated.

In response, SAD, together with Cilacap Regency Assistant I Sumbowo (SUM), Assistant II Ferry Adhi Dharma (FER), and Assistant III Budi Santoso (BUD), discussed the required amount for external needs.

From this discussion, the external holiday allowance requirement was determined at IDR 515 million. To meet this need, SUM, FER, and BUD requested money from each regional agency in Cilacap Regency with a collection target of IDR 750 million.

“Cilacap Regency has 25 regional agencies, then two district general hospitals, and 20 community health centres,” Asep detailed.

Initially, each work unit was targeted to deposit IDR 75-100 million. However, in practice, the deposits received varied, ranging from IDR 3 million to IDR 100 million per regional agency.

“So some regional agencies either made payments in instalments or engaged in bargaining, because it is likely that at present these regional agencies do not have budgetary allocations,” Asep explained.

The deposit amount from each regional agency was regulated based on considerations by FER. If a regional agency could not meet the determined amount, they were required to report to FER for review and reduction from the initial target.

Additionally, SAD instructed SUM, FER, and BUD to communicate and coordinate the money demand from Regent AUL regarding holiday allowance needs for personal and external purposes, which had to be collected by 13 March 2026.

AUL allegedly requested the holiday allowance be collected before the Eid 2026 holiday period. If agencies failed to deposit, they would be pursued for payment by SUM, FER, and BUD according to their respective jurisdictions.

According to the KPK, this collection effort was also assisted by the Head of the Pamong Praja Police Unit and the Head of the Food Security Office of Cilacap Regency.

During the period of 9-13 March 2026, 23 regional agencies in Cilacap Regency deposited funds totalling IDR 610 million in response to Regent AUL’s demand.

“So the amount collected during that period was IDR 610 million. For the external purpose mentioned earlier of IDR 515 million, it was already fulfilled, but to reach the IDR 750 million target, it still fell short,” Asep noted.

The deposited money was to be handed over by FER to SAD. When the KPK conducted the hand-caught operation on Friday, 13 March, the commission found the money already packed into bags stored at FER’s private residence.

“It would be given as holiday allowances to external parties,” Asep stated.

Additionally, from the sums involved, some money was newly received by FER from regional agency deposits kept in his office.

The KPK has now charged AUL and SAD as suspects. Both are accused of violating Article 12 letter e and/or Article 12B of Law Number 31 Year 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption Offences juncto Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 Year 2023 on the Criminal Code.

Meanwhile, FER, SUM, and BUD were also apprehended during the hand-caught operation on Friday, 13 March, in the Cilacap area. The three were subsequently brought to Jakarta for intensive questioning at KPK’s Red and White Building.