KPK: Regional apparatus transferred funds to Cilacap Regent due to fears of replacement

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has stated that work units of regional apparatus within the Cilacap Regency Government in Central Java decided to transfer extortion money to Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman (AUL) out of concern about being replaced.

“There was concern that if AUL’s request was not fulfilled, they would be transferred, and other consequences would follow,” said Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Enforcement at the KPK, at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Saturday evening, 14 March.

Additionally, Asep stated that they decided to transfer the money because they feared being seen as disloyal to Syamsul Auliya’s orders.

On 13 March 2026, the KPK announced its ninth hand-catching operation of 2026 and the third during Ramadan. The operation arrested Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman and 26 others, whilst seizing cash in rupiah.

On 14 March 2026, the KPK named Syamsul Auliya Rachman (AUL) and Cilacap Regional Secretary Sadmoko Danardoo (SAD) as suspects in an alleged extortion and illegal receipt case within the Cilacap Regency Government in Central Java for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Syamsul Auliya targeted obtaining 750 million rupiah through extortion, to be divided into 515 million rupiah for Year-End Allowance (THR) for the Cilacap Regency Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda), with the remainder for personal interests. However, he had only obtained 610 million rupiah before being arrested by the KPK.