KPK Opens Possibility of Examining Sukoharjo Regent's Husband

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has opened the possibility of examining Wardoyo Wijaya, the husband of Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani and a former regent who served two terms from 2010 to 2015 and 2016 to 2021. Deputy for Enforcement and Execution at the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, stated that the agency is still investigating Wardoyo’s connection to the extortion case allegedly carried out by his wife. “Whether the husband will be examined? That is what we are currently investigating,” Asep said during a press conference at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Saturday (11/7). However, Asep noted that Wardoyo’s health is currently declining. “Nevertheless, we will still request his statement if the results of the medical examination deem it possible for us to do so,” Asep added. Asep emphasised that the KPK will ensure Wardoyo is medically fit before requesting his testimony. “In principle, anyone involved in this corruption incident will be asked for their statement. This will help complete the narrative or construction of the case we are building,” he said. The KPK arrested Etik on suspicion of extortion within the Sukoharjo Regency Government. The alleged actions are also believed to have occurred during Wardoyo’s leadership. In this case, Asep explained that Etik issued a decree concerning the Receipt and Amount of Incentive Payments for Regional Tax Collection and a Regent’s Decree on the Recipients and Amount of Incentive Payments for Regional Retribution Collection at the Regional Financial, Revenue, and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD) of Sukoharjo Regency for the year 2026. “Both of these Regent’s Decrees are suspected of being used as a tool by ETS to carry out extortion of ‘Collection Fee Deposits’ within the BPKAD Sukoharjo,” Asep revealed. This demand, Asep continued, allegedly continued the tradition of the previous regent, who is also Etik’s husband. The alleged coded instructions included phrases like ‘tambahan upah pungut kae ono tho?’ (there is an additional collection fee, right?); ‘kowe mrene kan ora bayar’ (you came here without paying, didn’t you?); and ‘padakno karo bapak’ (make it the same as with the father). “The meaning is that the amount of money deposited should be adjusted to the deposits made during the previous regent’s time,” he added. When he was regent, Wardoyo also allegedly instructed BPKAD officials with the phrase ‘wes dilantik ojo mendeleng wae’ (you have been inaugurated, don’t just stay silent), which referred to payments from employees to the regent at that time.