KPK: Fadia Arafiq's staff consistently document money withdrawals in WhatsApp groups

The Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) disclosed that staff of Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq consistently documented money withdrawals suspected to originate from corruption through a WhatsApp group. ‘Every withdrawal of money for the Regent, the staff reported, documented, and sent it through the WA group,’ said Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Enforcement and Execution at the KPK, at the Merah Putih Building, KPK, Jakarta, on Wednesday (4 March). He explained that the funds collected were then managed and distributed by Fadia to relevant parties. He added that Fadia monitored the incoming funds, including pursuing payment if a department or regional government work unit (SKPD) failed to remit payments related to service procurement. ‘Thus, managing how much money comes in and the collection if a department hasn’t paid,’ he said. It was also said that if a department had not paid, Fadia allegedly issued orders for immediate payment. The KPK also revealed a WhatsApp group used to send the documentation named ‘Belanja RSUD’, believed to be a place reporting money withdrawal activities related to procurement of services in Pekalongan Regency. The case stemmed from a 3 March 2026 arrest operation in Semarang, Central Java, where KPK arrested Fadia Arafiq along with her aide and several trusted associates. In addition, 11 other people from Pekalongan were detained for questioning. On 4 March 2026, KPK formally named Fadia Arafiq as the sole suspect in a case of alleged corruption related to outsourcing services or other procurements in Pekalongan Regency for the 2023–2026 fiscal year. The KPK also disclosed that a family-owned company of Fadia dominated the procurement of goods and services in Pekalongan Government during 2025. It was alleged that Fadia used her family-owned company to win outsourcing service procurements for Pekalongan Regency, and that her husband and child also received proceeds from the suspected corruption. Herdiansyah emphasised that a politician should progress from the bottom to refine thinking and knowledge of political practices. The KPK has named Fadia Arafiq as a suspect in the case of alleged corruption related to outsourcing services or other procurements. The KPK stated it had conducted an OTT and sealed several offices within Pekalongan Regency government following the operation.