KPK Exposes Extortion Scheme of Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani, Allegedly Copying Her Husband's Pattern

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has disclosed that the alleged extortion scheme carried out by suspended Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani bears a striking resemblance to practices previously employed by her husband, Wardoyo Wijaya, during his tenure as regent. KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that the case construction indicates a duplication of the methods used by Wardoyo when he led Sukoharjo Regency. Wardoyo Wijaya served as Regent of Sukoharjo for two terms, from 2010 to 2015 and 2016 to 2021. “We see in the case construction that what Regent ETS did duplicates what was done by the previous regent, who is also ETS’s husband,” Budi Prasetyo said on Tuesday, 14 July 2026. According to Budi, the similarities extend beyond the pattern of extortion to include the exact amounts demanded from employees within the Sukoharjo Regency Government. He explained that investigators found a pattern of coercion against local government officials to hand over a portion of the incentives they received. “Even the rates or the amounts of the extortion, the coercion carried out, are exactly the same as those done by the previous regent,” he stated. Budi assessed that the practice was a repetition of a previously used scheme. “This means it is indeed a copy-paste of the schemes carried out by the previous regent,” he added. Despite revealing the similarities, the KPK has not confirmed when Wardoyo Wijaya will be questioned in this case. Budi emphasised that the examination of related parties will be conducted based on the needs of the investigation. In this case, the KPK has named three suspects: Etik Suryani as the suspended Regent of Sukoharjo, Richard Tri Handoko as the Head of the Regional Financial and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD) of Sukoharjo Regency, and Tri Mulyo as the Head of General Affairs of the Sukoharjo Regency Secretariat. The three are suspected of involvement in extortion practices related to the provision of incentives for regional tax and levy collection.