KPK Views Regional Head's THR Distribution as Creating Reluctance Among Law Enforcement Officials
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) views regional heads who distribute holiday allowances (THR) to a forum coordinating regional leaders (forkopimda) as creating reluctance among law enforcement officials in their jurisdictions.
“When THR is given to forkopimda, certainly the forkopimda, which has duties and authority as law enforcement officials, will become reluctant towards the regional head,” stated KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Saturday, 14 March, evening.
For this reason, Asep also viewed such THR distributions as a modus operandi to create conflicts of interest when regional heads face allegations.
“The distribution of THR can also be a modus operandi so that if there are suspected irregularities or violations committed by the regional government, they will not be acted upon by local law enforcement officials as one element of forkopimda. So there is a conflict of interest there,” he explained.
He made these remarks whilst discussing the case of alleged extortion by Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman.
Previously, on 13 March 2026, the KPK announced its ninth hand-catching operation (OTT) of the year and the third during Ramadhan. The operation arrested Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman and 26 others, and seized cash in rupiah.
On 14 March 2026, the KPK named Syamsul Auliya Rachman (AUL) and Cilacap Regional Secretary Sadmoko Danardoo (SAD) as suspects in a case of alleged extortion and other irregular receipts within the Cilacap Regency Government, Central Java, for the 2025-2026 financial year.
Syamsul Auliya targeted obtaining Rp750 million through the extortion scheme, which was to be divided into Rp515 million for the Holiday Allowance (THR) of the Forum Coordinating Regional Leaders (Forkopimda) of Cilacap Regency, with the remainder for personal interests. However, he had only obtained Rp610 million before being arrested by the KPK.