KPK Reveals Search for Kuansing Regent During Sting Operation: Certain Party Picked Him Up
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) searched for Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Regent Suhardiman Amby during a sting operation (OTT) related to a case of buying and selling the position of regional secretary. Suhardiman was reportedly picked up by a certain party to leave Kuansing.
KPK Acting Director of Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein stated that investigators searched for Suhardiman at his official residence and the Kuansing Regency government office but could not find him. At that time, Suhardiman was suspected of having already left the Kuansing area.
"There was information about a party picking him up, which was also known by the team, but our focus at that time was searching for the whereabouts of SA and ZKN," Taufik said during a press conference at the KPK Building in South Jakarta on Wednesday (1/7/2026).
The KPK did not specify exactly who picked up or took Suhardiman away from Kuansing, stating that this was not the main focus of the investigation. "That is also something we are not focusing on. It means that indeed there was that information, but it was not yet known by the team. Our focus was finding the two people whose statements we needed," he explained.
Taufik explained that the investigation order for Suhardiman had existed for a month prior. He suspected that Suhardiman learned of the investigation early on and allegedly manoeuvred to avoid the KPK. "There was information conveyed that the team’s arrival or KPK information was in Pekanbaru, because this investigation order report had actually been around for about a month, so whether the Regent felt it or indeed knew about it directly, that is still being investigated," he revealed.
The KPK has named Suhardiman a bribery suspect. Suhardiman allegedly received a bribe in the form of a Toyota Land Cruiser worth Rp 2 billion to select Zulkarnain as Regional Secretary.
KPK Acting Director of Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein said the case began in April 2025. He mentioned there were two candidates for Kuansing Regional Secretary, namely Fahdiansyah, Assistant I of the Kuansing Regency Government, and Zulkarnain, Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency.
"SA, as the Regent of Kuansing for the 2025-2030 period, then ‘requested’ a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR-S SUV as a condition from the parties or candidates participating in the Kuansing Regional Secretary selection process," Achmad Taufik stated during the press conference.
In the process, only Zulkarnain agreed to the request. Zulkarnain was subsequently selected as the Kuansing Regional Secretary. "To fulfil this request, ZKN then purchased a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR-S SUV worth Rp 2.05 billion at a showroom located in the Greater Jakarta area. The purchase was made on credit or in instalments of Rp 46.5 million per month, with a 5-year tenor," he said.