KPK: Regent Caught in Tulungagung Pendopo While Receiving Payment
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed the chronology of a sting operation (OTT) targeting Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo (GSW). The KPK apprehended Gatut during the handover of money allegedly obtained through extortion from a head of an organisational regional apparatus (OPD) at the Pendopo of the Tulungagung Regency Government.
KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo explained that the investigative team obtained information about the planned handover of money from one OPD to Gatut. The KPK team then delved deeper into this information.
“The team received information about a planned handover of money from one department to the Regent. It was triggered by the Regent’s needs, so a sum of money was prepared,” said Budi at the Merah Putih Building, South Jakarta, on Sunday (12/4/2026).
Budi stated that the handover was conducted through an intermediary, Dwi Yoga Ambal (YOG), as Gatut’s aide. According to him, KPK investigators who observed the transaction then apprehended several parties along with evidence after the money changed hands. “The cash secured in this sting operation totals Rp 335 million,” he said.
Budi conveyed that the KPK suspects this money is part of a total receipt of around Rp 2.7 billion collected by Gatut from 16 OPDs in the Tulungagung Regency Government. Four pairs of luxury shoes worth Rp 129 million, one of which is the Louis Vuitton brand, were also seized in the OTT.
“The Regent frequently demanded reimbursement for personal expenses, including buying shoes, medical treatment, and meals, from the OPDs,” said Budi.
KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution, Asep Guntur Rahayu, explained that OPDs made payments to Gatut due to threats of resignation from their positions. Even those who dared to resist orders could immediately face a resignation statement letter.
Through these threats, he continued, Gatut forced his subordinates to comply with all his wishes, including making payments. “For those who are not loyal to the Regent, they are threatened with dismissal from their position or even resignation as civil servants,” said Asep.
He also revealed two schemes used by Gatut to demand payments from department heads. The first is direct requests through his aide, in the form of payments ranging from Rp 15 million to Rp 2.8 billion.
“GSW also made quota demands by adding or shifting budgets in several OPDs. So, he would come to an OPD and say, ‘I’ll add the budget for this OPD, say 10, then he asks for a percentage from that, from the 10 he takes a certain percent,’” explained Asep.