KPK Examines Acting Pati Regent, Probes 'Team 8' Formed by Sudewo
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned Acting Pati Regent Risma Ardhi Chandra and 11 other witnesses to probe the workings of ‘Team 8’, formed by suspended Pati Regent Sudewo, which is initially suspected of extorting village official candidates.
The questioning took place at the Semarang Metropolitan Police headquarters in Central Java on Tuesday (24 February).
The witnesses examined included Riyoso, former Acting Regional Secretary and former Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency of Pati Regency; Pati Regency Council member Ali Badrudin; Pati Regency General Elections Commission Chairman P. Supriyanto; and Pati Regency Communications and Information Agency Head Sugiyono.
Further witnesses included Pati Regency Secretary Teguh Widyatmoko, Pati Regency Village Community Empowerment Agency Head Tri Hariyama, and Siti Noor Aini, known as Nunung, a civil servant at the Village Community Empowerment Agency.
Also questioned were Pati Regency Goods and Services Procurement Division Head Sutikno, Baleadi Village Head Suhardi, Gadu Village Head Imam Sholikin, and Artha Bahana Syariah Cooperative Chairman Subur Prabowo.
“Regarding witnesses connected to the Public Works Agency, the investigation is examining the execution of projects in Pati Regency where Team 8 allegedly engaged in rigging under the orders of SDW [Sudewo],” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at the Red and White Building in Jakarta on Tuesday (24 February).
Budi added that investigators would explore the same matters with other witnesses and trace the projects suspected of being rigged.
As for witnesses Risma Ardhi and P. Supriyanto, Budi said investigators were probing the composition of the Sudewo-Risma campaign team for the 2025 Pati Regency regional elections and other related matters.
“This also includes examining the planning and budgeting for village official candidates who will be appointed or elected in the March 2026 selection, so investigators want to see how the planning and budgeting processes were conducted,” Budi said.
Regarding the witness from the regional council, Budi said investigators were examining conversations or communications between the witness and Sudewo.
“Particularly concerning the impeachment plan or issue that was circulating at the time. This will naturally also become material for further investigation by the investigators,” he added.
Based on the KPK’s preliminary findings, Sudewo formed Team 8 to extort village official candidates in the Pati area.
Sudewo is said to have planned the alleged extortion of village official candidates since November 2025.
Together with several campaign team members and trusted associates, Sudewo exploited the policy of opening village official position vacancies in March 2026.
The KPK has named Sudewo and three others as suspects in the alleged extortion case.
The suspects are Abdul Suyono, Head of Karangrowo Village in Jakenan District; Sumarjiono, Head of Arumanis Village in Jaken District; and Karjan, Head of Sukorukun Village in Jaken District.
They have been detained at the KPK Detention Centre, charged under Article 12(e) of the Corruption Eradication Act in conjunction with Article 20(c) of the Criminal Code.
The case was uncovered through a KPK sting operation conducted recently, during which eight individuals including Sudewo were arrested. The covert operation also resulted in the seizure of Rp2.6 billion in cash.
The KPK has found alleged extortion practices in several districts across Pati. Detailed information has not yet been disclosed.
Pati Regency comprises a total of 21 districts, 401 villages, and 5 urban wards. An estimated 601 village official positions are currently vacant.