KPK Names Two Sukoharjo Bupati Subordinates as Extortion Suspects

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named two subordinates of Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani (ETS) as suspects in an alleged extortion case within the Sukoharjo Regency Government, Central Java.

The two suspects are Richard Tri Handoko (RCH), Head of the Regional Financial and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD) of Sukoharjo Regency, and Tri Mulyo (TRM), Head of General Affairs at the Sukoharjo Regional Secretariat.

“Both have been named as suspects together with Etik Suryani after further questioning,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu during a press conference at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Saturday.

Asep revealed that in the extortion scheme involving ‘levy payments’ carried out by Etik, Richard was instructed to collect approximately 40 percent of the incentives received by several employees at BPKAD. On Etik’s orders, Richard then directed echelon III officials within BPKAD to hand over the deducted levy payments to the BPKAD Secretary for the 2021-2026 period, identified by the initials ND, who subsequently passed the funds to Etik.

Furthermore, the KPK suspects that Etik ordered Tri Mulyo to manage ‘routine levies from regional apparatus organisations (OPD)’. Asep explained that under Etik’s instructions, Tri Mulyo collected these levies from various OPDs annually and during the distribution of holiday bonuses (THR). In addition, Tri Mulyo is also suspected of providing levies derived from fictitious expenditure receipts and inflated procurement prices within the General Affairs Division of the Sukoharjo Regional Secretariat.

“From these extortion activities, ETS received Rp2.93 billion from the ‘levy payments’ during the 2021-2026 period,” he stated.

The KPK has detained the suspects for an initial 20-day period from 10 to 29 July 2026. The detention is being carried out at the KPK’s Red and White Building branch of the State Detention Centre.

For their actions, the three regional government officials are charged with violating Article 12 letter e or Article 12 letter f and Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001.