KPK Probes Extortion Practices in Cilacap During Examination of Acting Regent

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) delved into extortion practices by local leaders in Cilacap, Central Java, during the examination of Acting Regent of Cilacap Ammy Amalia Fatma Surya on Tuesday (5/5). Ammy was questioned as a witness to complete the case file on suspected extortion involving suspects Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman and Cilacap Regional Secretary Sadmoko Danardono. “In today’s examination, for Ms AAF [Acting Regent of Cilacap], we delved into her knowledge regarding these extortion practices and whether they had also occurred in previous years or periods,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at the Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Tuesday (5/5) evening. Meanwhile, Ammy claimed she had no knowledge of the alleged extortion practices carried out by Regent Syamsul. “I really don’t know at all, honestly, and I was never involved or asked to discuss it. I also didn’t know at all that such things (extortion) were happening,” Ammy said after undergoing examination at the KPK office. She also claimed ignorance of the practice of providing Eid al-Fitr Allowances (THR) from the local government to the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda). “Oh dear, don’t ask me if it’s usual or not [providing THR to Forkopimda]. I’ve never done it. So, whether it’s usual or not, I don’t know,” she added. Delving into the source of funds On this day, KPK also examined six other witnesses. They were the Cilacap Regional Inspectorate Inspector Aris Munandar; Head of the Personnel and Human Resources Development Agency of Cilacap Regency Bayu Prahara; Head of the Population and Civil Registration Service of Cilacap Regency from February 2021 to present, Annisa Fabriana. Then Assistant for Administration and General Affairs at the Cilacap Regional Secretariat from 2025 to present, Budi Santosa; Head of the National Unity and Politics Agency of Cilacap Regency Jarot Prasojo; and Head of the Fisheries Service of Cilacap Regency Indarto. To these witnesses, KPK delved into the flow of extortion orders from Regent Syamsul. “What the mechanism is like, how the orders are issued, how the money collection mechanism works,” Budi said. “In the investigation of this case so far, investigators have not obtained information or statements that the collected money is related to the Regional Budget (APBD),” he continued. Based on witness statements, Budi said the money given to Regent Syamsul came from personal funds, loans, and collections from subordinates. “So this becomes tiered, the alleged extortion carried out by the regent to regional apparatus, then some of these regional apparatus collect from their subordinates,” said Budi. “Collections from subordinates range from Rp3 million to Rp10 million. That’s collected from several staff,” he continued. The money given to Regent Syamsul was used by him as THR for Forkopimda in Cilacap. KPK has detained Regent Syamsul and Cilacap Regional Secretary Sadmoko Danardono as suspects in the suspected criminal extortion and other receipts case for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year. The two suspects are alleged to have demanded a sum of money from each regional apparatus in Cilacap Regency with a “contribution target” of Rp750 million. The money was intended to be used as THR for external parties. Cilacap Regency has 25 regional apparatus, 2 Regional General Hospitals (RSUD), and 20 Community Health Centres (Puskesmas). Initially, each work unit (satker) was targeted to contribute Rp75 million to Rp100 million. Although in reality, the received contributions varied from Rp3 million to Rp100 million per regional apparatus. In the period of 9-13 March 2025, 23 regional apparatus in Cilacap Regency had contributed to the regent’s request, collected through FER (Ferry Adhi Dharma, Assistant II of Cilacap Regency) with a total of Rp610 million. The contribution money was to be handed over by FER to Sadmoko Danardono as the Cilacap Regional Secretary. For their actions, Syamsul Auliya Rachman and Sadmoko Danardono are charged with violating Article 12 letter e and/or Article 12B of the Corruption Eradication Law (UU Tipikor) in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.