KPK Names Rejang Lebong Regent as Suspect for Demanding Project Fees Up to 15 Per Cent
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has detected that Rejang Lebong Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari demanded project fees of up to 15 per cent, prompting the KPK to designate Fikri as a suspect alongside four others.
The KPK’s announcement concerns alleged bribery and project manipulation practices within the Rejang Lebong Regency administration in Bengkulu. The commission identified indications of project manipulation beginning in early 2026, with total physical project budgets at the regency’s Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (PUPRPKP) estimated at Rp 91.13 billion.
According to information gathered by the KPK, in February 2026, Muhammad Fikri Thobari (MFT), Head of PUPRPKP Hary Eko Purnomo, and a private party described as the regent’s trusted associate held a meeting at the regent’s official residence. The meeting allegedly involved discussions on contractor allocation and project fee requests.
“During the meeting, discussions allegedly took place regarding contractor allocation or the plotting of partners for project work at the PUPRPKP office in the 2026 financial year, including discussions on fee amounts (advance payments) of approximately 10 to 15 per cent of project values,” said Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Execution at the KPK, on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
The KPK also discovered that the regent allegedly wrote down contractor initials that would receive project packages, a practice suspected of violating regulations.
“After the contractor allocation process, MFT then wrote certain letter codes on a physical work summary sheet representing ‘contractor initials’ that would undertake project packages at the Rejang Lebong Regency PUPRPKP office for the 2026 financial year,” said Asep.
The KPK suspects the project fee requests were linked to funding needs ahead of Eid celebrations. The fee requests were subsequently agreed upon between government officials and numerous contractors. From this agreement, the KPK documented initial advance payment transfers totalling approximately Rp 980 million.
The money came from three contractors amounting to Rp 330 million, Rp 400 million, and Rp 250 million, transferred through various intermediaries.
The matter came to light following a KPK monitoring operation in Bengkulu. On 9 March 2026, investigators observed the transfer of money wrapped in plastic inside a black bag.
“The KPK team observed the process of transferring suspected advance payment money wrapped in plastic inside a black bag,” said Asep.
From the operation, KPK investigators also seized evidence including documents, electronic evidence, and cash totalling Rp 756.8 million found at several locations. The KPK also uncovered suspected additional money received by the regent through the PUPRPKP head totalling Rp 775 million.
“During intensive examination, the KPK also discovered suspected additional money received by MFT through HEP from various parties using the method of requesting project fees from several contractors totalling Rp 775 million,” said Asep.
Additionally, the KPK believes this malpractice was not an isolated incident, potentially serving as a gateway to investigating other corruption allegations within the Rejang Lebong Regency administration.
“This caught-in-the-act incident will serve as a gateway for the KPK to develop investigations into suspected other corruption offences within the Rejang Lebong Regency administration,” said Asep.
The KPK has designated five suspects in this case. These are Muhammad Fikri Thobari (MFT) as Rejang Lebong Regent for 2025-2030, Harry Eko Purnomo (HEP) as Head of the Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing and Settlement Office (PUPRPKP), Irsyad Satria Budiman (IRS) as a private party from PT SMS (Statika Mitra Sarana), Edi Manggala (EDM) as a private party from CV MU (Manggala Utama), and Youko Yusdiantoro (YK) as a private party from CV AA (Alpagker Abadi).
For their actions, Fikri Thobari and Harry Eko Purnomo, as recipients, are charged with committing corruption and violating Article 12 (a) or (b) and/or Article 12B of the Corruption Eradication Act read together with Article 20 (c) of Law Number 1/2023 concerning the Criminal Code.
Irsyad Satria Budiman, Edi Manggala, and Youko Yusdiantoro, as providers, are charged with committing corruption and violating Article 605 subsection (1) or Article 606 subsection (1) of the Criminal Code read together with Law Number 1/2026 concerning Penalty Adjustment.