KPK Designates Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu as Suspect in Extortion Case

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has designated Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo as a suspect in an alleged extortion case within the Tulungagung Regency Government in East Java.

In addition to Gatut, the KPK has also named Dwi Yoga Ambal, the regent’s aide, as a suspect in the matter.

Asep explained that Gatut is alleged to have pressured the heads of regional apparatus organisations (OPDs) within the Tulungagung Regency Government following the inauguration of officials.

These officials were reportedly asked to sign statements of readiness to resign if unable to perform their duties, along with letters of full responsibility for budgets in their respective departments.

In practice, Gatut is also alleged to have demanded sums of money from the OPDs under various pretexts. The collected funds were then used for personal needs.

Before withdrawing money from the OPDs, Gatut is said to have first increased their budgets. However, before the funds were disbursed, the additional budget allocations were already demanded to be handed over to Gatut.

The money withdrawals were carried out by Gatut’s aide, Dwi Yoga Ambal, who often treated the OPDs as if they were debtors during the process.

Asep stated that Gatut targeted collecting up to Rp 5 billion from the OPD heads. By the time of the arrests on Friday (10/4/2026), the collected amount had reached Rp 2.7 billion.

In addition to extortion, Gatut also allegedly arranged several goods and services procurement projects to benefit his associates. One such project that he influenced was the procurement of medical equipment for Tulungagung Hospital.

The suspects face charges under Article 12e or 12B of Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption, in conjunction with Article 20c of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.