KPK explains why it did not name BNPB secretary-general a suspect

Sleman, Yogyakarta (ANTARA) — Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has explained why it did not name National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Secretary-General Rustian as a suspect in an alleged corruption case, despite detaining him in a sting operation.

“Based on the case review, no unlawful act by the secretary-general has been found,” KPK chairman Setyo Budiyanto said in Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta, on Wednesday.

Setyo said the KPK had therefore named only five people as suspects in the alleged corruption case at the BNPB, following a case review held on Tuesday evening (13 October). “Yes, as of last night, that is why there are only five,” he said.

The KPK previously confirmed that it had carried out a sting operation at the BNPB on 13 October 2026. Fourteen people were detained, including Rustian and several private-sector individuals.

Rustian was not named as a suspect in the alleged corruption involving the procurement of goods and services, which was allegedly funded through a ready-to-use budget for disaster response.

On 14 October 2026, the KPK named five people as suspects in the case. One is Bima Setiawan, the younger brother of BNPB head Lieutenant General Suharyanto and one of his expert advisers.

According to information gathered, the other four suspects are Gabriel Purwaka Sigit, head of the BNPB Subdirectorate for the Management of Aid and Emergency Funds; BNPB head’s expert adviser Richard Erlangga; and private-sector individuals Syifa Nrika Ghifarin and Gery Prasetiawan.