KPK Claims Regional Heads Give THR to Law Enforcers to Avoid Prosecution If Charged

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) views regional heads who provide Hari Raya allowances (THR) to regional leadership coordination forums (forkopimda) as creating reluctance among law enforcement officials in their jurisdictions.

“When THR is given to forkopimda, certainly forkopimda members who hold duties and authority as law enforcement officials will become reluctant towards the regional head,” said KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at KPK headquarters in Jakarta on Saturday evening, 14 March 2026.

Asep also viewed the THR provision as a method to create conflicts of interest when regional heads face charges.

“The provision of THR can also serve as a method so that if there are alleged irregularities or violations committed by the regional government, they are not acted upon by local law enforcement officials as one element of forkopimda. So there is a conflict of interest there,” he explained.

He made the statement whilst discussing the case of alleged extortion by Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman.

Previously, on 13 March 2026, the KPK announced its ninth arrest operation of 2026 and the third during Ramadhan.

The operation arrested Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman and 26 others, whilst seizing cash in rupiah.

On 14 March 2026, the KPK named Syamsul Auliya Rachman and Cilacap Regional Secretary Sadmoko Danardoo as suspects in an alleged extortion and illicit enrichment case within Cilacap Regency Government, Central Java, for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Syamsul Auliya targeted obtaining Rp750 million through extortion, to be divided into Rp515 million for the Hari Raya allowance (THR) of the Cilacap Regency Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), with the remainder for personal interests. However, he only obtained Rp610 million before being arrested by the KPK.