KPK: Tulungagung Regent Uses Letters to Extort OPD Officials

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo (GSW) of utilising resignation statements from positions and civil servant (ASN) status to extort officials in the regional government apparatus (OPD) within the Tulungagung Regency Government, East Java. “This document was then allegedly used by GSW as a means to control and pressure the officials to remain loyal and obey every order from GSW,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Saturday night (11/4/2026). Further, Asep explained that it began with GSW inaugurating the OPD officials in the Tulungagung Regency Government in December 2025. “After the inauguration, GSW asked the officials to sign resignation statements from their positions and from ASN if they were unable to carry out the assigned duties and responsibilities,” he said. According to him, the Tulungagung OPD officials were asked by Gatut Sunu Wibowo to sign letters that had already been stamped but without dates. “The resignation statements from positions and from ASN were deliberately left undated,” he stated. Subsequently, copies of the signed letters were not given to the officials. “So, they were called to a special room where his aide was present, and asked to sign. The officials were also not allowed to bring their mobile phones, so there was no opportunity to take photos,” he said. After that, he said GSW demanded money from the officials, either directly or through his aide as intermediary. “If not given, there’s already the letter, just add the date,” he added. Previously, the KPK conducted a sting operation (OTT) in the Tulungagung area, East Java, on 10 April 2026. The KPK arrested 18 people in that OTT, including Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo and his younger brother, who is also a member of the Tulungagung DPRD, Jatmiko Dwijo Saputro. A day later, on 11 April 2026, the KPK brought Gatut Sunu Wibowo and his brother along with 11 others to Jakarta for intensive examination. On the same date, the KPK announced Gatut Sunu Wibowo (GSW) along with Dwi Yoga Ambal (YOG), his aide, as suspects in the alleged extortion and other receipts case within the Tulungagung Regency Government for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.