KPK states Cilacap Regent extorted local government units for holiday allowances since Eid 2025
Jakarta — The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) states that Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman (AUL) is alleged to have extorted local government units (satker) within the district government for holiday allowances (THR) dating back to Eid 2025.
KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu explained that this was revealed during intensive questioning following the anti-corruption commission’s arrest of AUL and other suspects on Friday (13 March).
“So, the provision of THR was not only for the holiday celebration in 2026, but it also occurred in 2025,” Asep said at a press conference at KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Saturday evening.
However, he added that at that time, the practice was not monitored by the anti-corruption commission. On the other hand, the KPK had not received any report that the Cilacap Regent had instructed subordinates to collect money unlawfully.
“So, this is a repeated practice, and even if not caught this year, it is likely to be repeated in future years,” Asep said.
Asep explained that the case originated from a public complaint report. He stated that AUL instructed Cilacap District Regional Secretary Sadmoko Danardono (SAD) to collect funds for the provision of THR for personal use and external parties.
“The external parties referred to here are Forkopimda, which is the regional leadership communications forum within the Cilacap District Government,” he said.
In response, SAD, together with First Assistant Sumbowo (SUM), Second Assistant Ferry Adhi Dharma (FER), and Third Assistant Budi Santoso (BUD), discussed the amount needed for external purposes.
From the discussion, the external THR requirement was determined to be 515 million rupiah. To meet this requirement, SUM, FER, and BUD requested funds from each regional device in Cilacap District with a target collection of 750 million rupiah.
“Cilacap District itself has 25 regional devices, then two district general hospitals, and 20 health centres,” Asep detailed.
Initially, each unit was targeted to deposit 75-100 million rupiah. However, in reality, the deposits received varied, ranging from 3 million to 100 million rupiah per regional device.
“So, some regional devices either may have made staggered payments or there was bargaining involved, since it is likely that at this time the regional devices do not have allocated budgets,” Asep said.
The amount deposited by each regional device was determined based on FER’s consideration. If a regional device could not meet the determined amount, they were required to report to FER for review and reduction from the initial target.
Furthermore, SAD also instructed SUM, FER, and BUD to communicate and coordinate the money request from Regent AUL concerning the THR requirement for personal and external purposes, which had to be collected by 13 March 2026.
AUL is said to have requested the THR to be collected before the 2026 Eid holiday break. If not deposited, regional devices would be followed up by SUM, FER, and BUD within their respective jurisdictions.
According to the KPK, this collection was also assisted by the Head of the Civil Service Police and the Head of the Food Security Office of Cilacap District.
During the period of 9-13 March 2026, 23 regional devices in Cilacap District deposited funds in response to Regent AUL’s request, with a total reaching 610 million rupiah.
“So what was collected during that period was 610 million rupiah. For the external requirement of 515 million rupiah, this was already met, but for reaching 750 million rupiah, it still fell short,” Asep said.
The deposited funds were to be handed over by FER to SAD. When the KPK conducted the sting operation on Friday (13 March), the KPK found the funds already packed into bags stored in FER’s private residence.
“They were to be provided as THR to the external parties,” Asep said.
Additionally, from some of the funds, some had been newly received by FER from deposits by regional devices that were secured in his office.
At present, the KPK has designated AUL and SAD as suspects. Both are charged with violating Article 12 letter e and/or Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 on Corruption Eradication juncto Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.
Meanwhile, FER, SUM, and BUD were also arrested in the sting operation on Friday (13 March) in the Cilacap area. All three were then brought to Jakarta for intensive questioning at the KPK’s Red and White Building.