KPK Suspects Pati Regent Sudewo Also Rigged Projects via 'Team 8'
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has questioned 12 witnesses in the extortion case involving the appointment of prospective village officials carried out by suspended Pati Regent Sudewo. Beyond the extortion charges, the KPK also suspects project rigging in Pati was orchestrated by Sudewo.
“Regarding witnesses connected to the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency, we are examining matters related to the execution of projects in Pati Regency, which are suspected to have been manipulated by Team 8 on the orders of SDW,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at KPK headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday (24 February 2026).
The witness examinations were conducted at the Semarang Metropolitan Police in Central Java. However, the KPK is still investigating the specific projects involved.
“This is being explored through several witnesses summoned today, and of course investigators will continue to trace and examine which projects were allegedly subject to such manipulation,” he said.
The following witnesses were examined by the KPK:
- Riyoso — Former Acting Regional Secretary and Former Head of Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency, Pati Regency
- Ali Basrudin — Member of Pati Regency Legislative Council (DPRD)
- P. Supriyanto — Chairman of Pati Regency General Elections Commission (KPU)
- Sugiyono — Head of Communications and Information Agency, Pati Regency
- Teguh Widyatmoko — Regional Secretary, Pati Regency
- Tri Hariyama — Head of Village Community Development Agency, Pati Regency
- Siti Noor Aini, alias Nunung — Civil servant at the Village Community Development Agency, Pati Regency
- Sutikno — Head of Procurement Division, Pati Regency
- Suhardi — Village Head of Baleadi
- Imam Sholikin — Village Head of Gadu, Gunungwungkal Sub-district, Pati Regency
- Subur Prabowo — Chairman of Artha Bahana Syariah Cooperative
- Acting Pati Regent Risma Ardhi Chandra
In this case, the KPK has named four suspects, one of whom is Pati Regent Sudewo. The KPK suspects Sudewo imposed fees of Rp 125–150 million on prospective village officials.
These fees were subsequently inflated by his subordinates to Rp 165–225 million per village official candidate. The KPK has seized a total of Rp 2.6 billion in connection with the case.
Sudewo also established a group called ‘Team 8’, composed of members of his campaign team.
The four suspects in the village official candidate extortion case in Pati are:
- Sudewo, Regent of Pati for the 2025–2030 term
- Abdul Suyono, Village Head of Karangrowo, Jakenan Sub-district
- Sumarjiono, Village Head of Arumanis, Jaken Sub-district
- Karjan, Village Head of Sukorukun, Jaken Sub-district