KPK Receives Information on Tulungagung Regent Extorting School Principals and Sub-District Heads
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has received information that inactive Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo carried out extortion against school parties and sub-district heads.
“At the sub-district level, at the school level because the initial information we received was also like that,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at the Merah Putih Building, Jakarta, on Tuesday (14/4/2026).
“There are allegations of extortion carried out by the Regent against parties in schools, parties in sub-districts. That means there is a price tag for positions as school principals or sub-district heads,” he stated.
“This is what we will continue to investigate and trace, so we really need support from the public in this case investigation process,” he added.
The KPK subsequently detained both suspects for the first 20 days from 11-30 April 2026 at the KPK Merah Putih Building Branch State Detention House (Rutan).
Gatut is alleged to have pressured the heads of Regional Device Work Units (OPD) in the Tulungagung Regency Government environment after the official appointment process.
The officials were reportedly asked to sign statements of readiness to resign from their positions and as civil servants (ASN) if they were unable to carry out the tasks and responsibilities given.
The letter with a blank date was allegedly used as a tool to pressure the OPD heads in fulfilling requests from the regent, including when asked for money contributions.
“For those who are not loyal to the Regent, they are threatened with being dismissed from their positions or even resigning as ASN,” he explained.
The money collection was carried out by Gatut’s aide, Dwi Yoga Ambal, who in its implementation often treated the OPD parties like debtors.
Asep said that Gatut targeted collecting money up to Rp5 billion from the OPD leaders. The contribution amounts varied between Rp15 million and Rp2.8 billion.
Until the arrest on Friday (10/4/2026), the collected money reached Rp2.7 billion.
“This money is suspected to have been used for personal interests such as buying shoes, medical treatment, meals, and other personal needs that were also requested or charged to the OPD budget,” said Asep.
Gatut is also alleged to have arranged for his associates to win in the procurement of cleaning service and security service providers.
For their actions, the suspects are charged with committing criminal acts of corruption, as referred to in Article 12 letter e or Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the eradication of criminal acts of corruption jo. Article 20 letter c of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.