KPK Detects Parties Attempting to Pick Up Kuansing Regent During Sting Operation

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has detected attempts by several parties to help Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Regent Suhardiman Amby escape during a sting operation (OTT). The anti-corruption agency claims to have identified the parties who attempted to pick up the regent to help him evade officers. “There was information about parties picking him up. The team was also aware of this, but at that time we were focused on locating SA and ZKN (Kuansing Regional Secretary Zulkarnain),” said Acting Director of KPK Investigations, Achmad Taufik Husein, at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Wednesday (1/7). Taufik explained that the enforcement deputy team initially searched for Suhardiman and Zulkarnain at the official residence and several offices within the Kuansing Regency Government. However, both were not found at these locations and were strongly suspected of having hastily left the area. To anticipate a further escape, the KPK immediately split its team to expand the search area to Pekanbaru City, Riau. The KPK conducted a marathon sting operation in Kuansing Regency and Jakarta on 29 June 2026, securing 10 individuals. This silent operation is recorded as the 14th OTT launched by the anti-corruption agency throughout 2026. Of the 10 people caught, five were immediately taken to the KPK’s Merah Putih Building for intensive examination. They consisted of three private parties, a state civil apparatus (ASN) from the Kuansing Regency Government, and Suhardiman’s wife, Suci Nitia Edwar. The KPK then issued an appeal for Suhardiman and Kuansing Regional Secretary Zulkarnain to be cooperative and surrender on 30 June 2026. Both eventually complied with the ultimatum and were immediately picked up by KPK investigators upon their arrival at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Banten. On 1 July 2026, the KPK officially named Suhardiman Amby, Zulkarnain, and the President Director of PT Mitra Ideal Consultant, Ardiles, as suspects. The three were charged in a suspected bribery case related to the buying and selling of positions within the Kuansing Regency Government. The KPK is also currently targeting Suhardiman over allegations of receiving gratuities related to the release of Limited Production Forest (HPT) areas in his region.