Langkat Regent Named KPK Suspect, Allegedly Received Rp 800 Million in Bribes

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Langkat Regent Syah Afandin (SAF) and Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu’arif (YQB), a private party who was also part of Syah’s campaign team, as suspects in a project bribery case. Syah has allegedly received Rp 800 million in illicit project fees from Yaqub since 2025. “In response to the fee request, as of 5 April 2026, YQB had given SAF a total of Rp 800 million,” said KPK Acting Director of Investigations Achmad Taufik Husein during a press conference at the KPK building in Kuningan, Jakarta, on Friday (3/7/2026). The money was handed over on several occasions: Rp 500 million in 2025 via two transfers through ZK, the Regent’s driver; Rp 150 million in May 2025 through an intermediary; and another Rp 150 million in April 2026 through ZK. At the end of June 2026, Syah again asked Yaqub for Rp 300 million as part of the committed fee. “However, on 1 July 2026, YQB stated he could only fulfil Rp 100 million of that request,” Taufik said. Beyond the project bribery, the KPK also uncovered evidence of other alleged receipts or gratuities received by SAF, totalling at least Rp 3.5 billion. Syah was caught in a KPK sting operation along with six other individuals. During the operation, the KPK seized a number of pieces of evidence. “Fifty-five platinum bars with a total weight of approximately 55 kg were found in SAF’s car,” Taufik stated, adding that the authenticity of the bars would be verified by an expert. Investigators also seized Rp 100 million in cash from Syah Affandi, along with foreign currency totalling Rp 1.22 billion, consisting of SGD 66,950, RM 11,518, and Rp 244.7 million.