KPK Reveals Langkat Regent Knew of Impending Sting Operation, Uncovering 'Situation Heating Up' Code

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has stated that Langkat Regent Syah Afandin, also known as Ondim, knew he was about to be arrested in a sting operation (OTT).

Plt Director of Investigation at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, explained that the case began when Syah requested the remaining fee from projects in the Education and Public Works Departments of Langkat, which were being handled by Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu’arif. He explained that Yaqub is a private sector figure who was also Syah’s campaign team during the 2024 regional election. The two had agreed on a fee of Rp1.2 billion.

However, Taufik stated that the total amount Syah had received was only Rp800 million. Consequently, Syah asked Yaqub for the remainder, but only Rp100 million was agreed upon. The plan was to hand over the money on Wednesday (1/7). Syah then contacted Yaqub to meet after attending an Association of Indonesian Regency Governments (Apkasi) event.

Nevertheless, the meeting plan was cancelled because Syah learned that he was being monitored by the KPK. At around 11:00 PM, Syah’s driver, Zulkifli, contacted Yaqub to ask him to return home. ‘This was because SAF knew that a KPK team was in Langkat Regency. So, the team’s arrival was also monitored by SAF,’ he said during a press conference on Friday (3/7).

The following day, Thursday (2/7), the plan to hand over the money was discussed again. Syah assigned his close associate, who is also a former member of the North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), Syahrial, to contact Yaqub. ‘It was conveyed by SYH that the situation was heating up, so the agreed payment of Rp100 million requested by SAF was to be handed over through SYH,’ he stated.

At around 8:00 AM local time, Yaqub and Syahrial met at a café in Medan City to hand over the Rp100 million. After the money changed hands, Syahrial departed for Binjai City. It was during Syahrial’s journey to Binjai that the KPK investigation team stopped his vehicle and secured the money. ‘The handover of the Rp100 million had been completed, and the KPK team in the field successfully secured the Rp100 million found under the car seat of the vehicle SYH was travelling in,’ he explained.

As a result of these actions, the KPK has officially named Langkat Regent Syah Afandin as a suspect after he was caught in a sting operation related to project bribery. In addition to Afandin, the KPK has also named Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu’arif, a private party and Afandin’s campaign team member during the 2024 regional election, as a suspect in this case.