KPK Has Arrested a Dozen Regional Heads, Including West Lombok Regent
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested a dozen regional heads since the beginning of 2026. One of those detained is the Regent of West Lombok, Lalu Ahmad Zaini (LAZ).
From the start of 2026 until the end of July, the KPK has been intensively conducting sting operations (OTT). A total of twelve regional heads have been caught red-handed for corruption. The regional heads arrested range from regents to mayors, with cases varying widely. The following is a list of regional heads arrested by the KPK throughout 2026.
19 January 2026: Regent of Pati, Central Java, Sudewo, was caught in a KPK sting operation related to project bribery and the buying and selling of village official positions.
19 January 2026: Mayor of Madiun, East Java, Maidi, was caught in a KPK sting operation related to extortion of CSR funds, project fees, and gratuities.
3 March 2026: Regent of Pekalongan, Central Java, Fadia Arafiq, was caught in a KPK sting operation related to the procurement of outsourcing services for a family company.
12 March 2026: Regent of Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu, Muhammad Fikri Thobari, was caught in a KPK sting operation related to a bribe as a down payment for district government projects.
13 March 2026: Regent of Cilacap, Central Java, Syamsul Auliya Rachman, was caught in a KPK sting operation for extorting regional apparatus organisations (OPD) regarding holiday bonus (THR) payments.
10 April 2026: Regent of Tulungagung, East Java, Gatut Sunu Wibowo, was caught in a KPK sting operation for extorting 16 heads of regional apparatus organisations (OPD).
9 June 2026: Regent of Muara Enim, South Sumatra, Edison, was caught in a KPK sting operation related to procurement at the Muara Enim District Education and Culture Office.
30 June 2026: Regent of Kuantan Singingi, Riau, Suhardiman Amby, was caught in a KPK sting operation related to bribery for the regional secretary position involving a luxury car worth IDR 2.05 billion.
3 July 2026: Regent of Langkat, Syah Afandin, was caught in a KPK sting operation related to project fees for the Education Office and the Housing and Settlement Office, with alleged gratuities of IDR 3.5 billion.
11 July 2026: Regent of Sukoharjo, Etik Suryani, was caught in a KPK sting operation related to the extortion and deduction of civil servant (ASN) payments by the district government.
21 July 2026: Regent of West Lombok, Lalu Ahmad Zaini, was caught in a KPK sting operation related to corruption involving project manipulation and accepting bribes totalling IDR 12.4 billion.
29 July 2026: Regent of Pemalang, Central Java, Anom Widiyantoro, was caught in a KPK sting operation related to project manipulation and the trading of official positions.