KPK Reveals Cilacap Regent's Plan to Distribute Year-End Bonuses from Extortion Money

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed new facts behind the arrest operation of Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman. Funds obtained through extortion worth hundreds of millions of rupiah were reportedly intended to finance year-end bonuses (Tunjangan Hari Raya) for members of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda).

According to Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Execution at the KPK, the allocated amounts for each agency varied, ranging from Rp20 million to Rp100 million. “Some received Rp100 million, Rp50 million, and so on. Each Forkopimda member received different amounts, with some receiving as little as Rp20 million,” Asep explained at the KPK’s Red and White Building on Saturday evening, 14 March.

KPK investigators discovered Rp610 million in cash from the extortion scheme, which had been packaged into six white gift bags (goodie bags) ready for distribution before being uncovered by the enforcement team. The regent had apparently been targeting to raise Rp750 million from this extortion operation, with Rp515 million specifically allocated for Forkopimda year-end bonuses, whilst the remainder was earmarked for the regent’s personal interests.

This operation marked the KPK’s ninth arrest operation throughout 2026 and the third during Ramadan. In the raid on 13 March 2026, the KPK apprehended Syamsul Auliya Rachman along with 26 others.

On 14 March 2026, the KPK formally named Syamsul Auliya Rachman and Cilacap Regional Secretary Sadmoko Danardoo as suspects in an extortion and illegal receipt case involving the Cilacap Regency Government in Central Java for the 2025-2026 budget year.

Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi responded to the KPK’s operation in Cilacap, reiterating the importance of integrity among regional leaders and civil servants in government.