KPK Investigates Former Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi Over Railway Authority Procurement Process

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has questioned former Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi on Monday, 9 March 2026, regarding procurement processes within the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) under the Transport Ministry and connections to members of Commission V of the House of Representatives who served as working partners with the ministry.

The questioning took place at the Semarang office of the Financial and Development Supervisory Board (BPKP) in Central Java.

“In this questioning, investigators examined the witness’s knowledge of the processes and mechanisms used in procurement at the DJKA,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

Budi Karya Sumadi was asked to explain the implementation of the procurement process in his capacity as Transport Minister at the time the alleged incidents occurred.

Budi Karya Sumadi’s legal representative, Tri Hartanto, confirmed that his client complied with the KPK’s summons.

“We responded to the invitation,” said Tri.

The case began with a surprise raid conducted by the KPK on 11 April 2023 at the Class I Railway Engineering Centre for Central Java Region of the DJKA Transport Ministry. The centre has since been renamed the Semarang Class I Railway Engineering Centre.

The KPK subsequently named 10 suspects who were immediately detained in connection with alleged corruption in railway construction and maintenance projects across Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi. As of 20 January 2026, the KPK had named and detained a total of 21 suspects. The KPK has also named two corporations as suspects in the case.

The alleged corruption offences relate to several railway projects: the construction of a dual-track railway line between Solo Balapan-Kadipiro-Kalioso; railway construction in Makassar, South Sulawesi; four railway construction projects and two supervision projects in Lampegan Cianjur, West Java; and a railway crossing improvement project spanning Java and Sumatra.

Investigators allege that the winner of these projects was determined through manipulation by certain parties, from the administrative process through to the announcement of tender winners.

Budi Karya Sumadi was previously questioned by the KPK in this case. He was last questioned as a witness in the DJKA corruption case on 26 July 2023.