KPK Reveals Sukoharjo Regent Allegedly Continued Husband's 'Tradition' of Extorting Subordinates
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani as a suspect for allegedly extorting payments from her subordinates. The KPK stated that Suryani is suspected of continuing a ‘tradition’ started by her husband, who previously served as Sukoharjo Regent. ‘This demand by ETS is suspected to continue the ’tradition’ of the previous regent, who is also ETS’s husband,’ said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu during a press conference at the KPK’s Merah Putih building in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Saturday (11/7/2026).
Asep explained that Suryani used several Javanese code phrases when demanding payments from her subordinates. One such phrase was ‘padakno karo bapak’, meaning ‘make it the same as father’. This code allegedly referred to the amount of money that had to be handed over, matching the sums given during the previous regent’s tenure. The previous regent had also instructed officials at the Regional Financial, Revenue, and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD) using the phrase ‘wes dilantik ojo mendeleng wae’ (you’ve been inaugurated, don’t just stay silent), implying that BPKAD employees should make payments to the regent.
The KPK also suspects Suryani continued this pattern when she ordered Tri Mulyo, the Head of General Affairs at the Sukoharjo Regional Secretariat, to manage ‘routine OPD levies’. She allegedly used Javanese code phrases in these demands as well. ‘The amount requested is also suspected to continue the ’inheritance’ from the previous regent with the code ‘padakno karo bapak’ (make it the same as father),’ Asep stated. During the previous regent’s period, he had also demanded levies from General Affairs employees with the order ‘golekno 500 akhir tahun’ (find 500 million for the end of the year).
Asep further revealed the alleged extortion method used by Suryani against her subordinates. She allegedly used two Regent Decrees related to incentives for regional tax and levy collection as tools to demand payments. These two decrees concerned the receipt and payment amounts of incentives for regional tax collection and regional levy collection at the Sukoharjo BPKAD for the year 2026. ‘The issuance of these two Regent Decrees was allegedly used as a ’tool’ by ETS to carry out extortion of ‘Collection Fee Levies’ within the Sukoharjo BPKAD,’ Asep explained.
In carrying out her actions, Suryani allegedly asked Sukoharjo BPKAD Head Richard Tri Handoko to collect approximately 40 percent of the incentives received by a number of BPKAD employees. Richard then ordered echelon III officials within the BPKAD to deposit the collection fee deductions to Nardi, the Secretary of Sukoharjo BPKAD for the 2021-2026 period, before it was ultimately given to Suryani. Asep stated that during the 2024-2026 period, Suryani allegedly received ‘routine OPD levies’ collected by Tri Mulyo amounting to Rp840 million, with details of Rp245 million in 2024, Rp350 million in 2025, and Rp245 million in 2026. Meanwhile, the money collected by Richard from 2022 to 2024 from these OPD levies reached Rp1.2 billion. ‘During the 2021-2026 period, it is known that the total collection fee levies received by ETS reached Rp2.93 billion. ETS used these receipts for personal interests, among other things,’ Asep said.
The KPK has named three suspects in this case: Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani; Head of the Sukoharjo Regency Regional Financial and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD), Richard Tri Handoko; and Head of General Affairs at the Sukoharjo Regional Secretariat, Tri Mulyo. The three are suspected of violating Article 12 letter e or Article 12 letter f and Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001.