KPK Says Langkat Regent Received Rp800 Million in Project Bribes

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has stated that Langkat Regent Syah Afandin, also known as Ondim, has received Rp800 million in alleged bribe money from a total agreed sum of Rp1.117 billion. Acting KPK Director of Investigations Achmad Taufik Husein explained that the case began when Ondim’s former campaign team member during the 2024 regional election, Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu’arif, secured 80 projects at the Langkat Regency Education Agency and five projects at the Housing and Settlement Agency in 2025. For these projects, Ondim demanded a fee of 10 percent from each Education Agency project and 17 percent from Housing and Settlement Agency projects. An agreement was subsequently reached for a sum of Rp990 million for the Education Agency projects and Rp126.8 million for the Housing and Settlement Agency projects, projecting Ondim to receive a total of around Rp1.1 billion. As of 5 April 2026, Yaqub had handed over a total of Rp800 million to Ondim. The money was distributed through Ondim’s driver, identified by the initials ZK, who received Rp500 million in two transfers during 2025, a further Rp150 million through an intermediary in May 2025, and another Rp150 million in April 2026. Ondim had only recently requested the remaining balance of approximately Rp300 million at the end of June 2026. The KPK conducted a sting operation in Langkat, Binjai, and Medan, North Sumatra, on 2 July 2026, and named both Ondim and Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu’arif as suspects the following day.