Muara Enim Regent's Alleged Bribe-for-Bribe Scheme Unravelled
Non-active Muara Enim Regent Edison allegedly ordered bribes to be paid to officials at the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK). The bribe money for the BPK is suspected to have originated from bribes received by Edison himself. Edison was initially arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in a sting operation on Monday (8/6). The KPK subsequently named Edison a suspect on Tuesday (9/6).
Besides Edison, the KPK also named three other individuals as suspects: Abi Nurwardani, Secretary of the Education and Culture Office for 2026; Adi Triyadi, the regent’s nephew; and Cory Erin Hardi, a marketing representative of PT Millenium Solusi Abadi. The KPK suspects Edison received a bribe of Rp 500 million from Cory, allegedly channelled through Abi Nurwardani. The bribe was reportedly a token to maintain a ‘good relationship’ because PT MSA, as a smart board supplier, had secured a procurement project from the Muara Enim Regency government in 2025. Additionally, Abi also received cash deposits from other official partners in Muara Enim. The KPK seized around Rp 1.9 billion in cash related to this case.
In a related development, the KPK conducted a sting operation against five BPK civil servants on Wednesday (10/6). The KPK stated this operation was linked to the alleged bribery within the Muara Enim Regency government, suspecting that the Regent paid off BPK officials to close audit findings regarding the smart board procurement. KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo confirmed the investigation was to cover up BPK findings related to procurements in Muara Enim, one of which was the smart TV procurement.
The KPK later named five suspects in the bribery case from Edison to the BPK. The anti-graft agency revealed that BPK officials had requested Rp 1.6 billion to alter the audit results. KPK Director of Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein detailed that the case originated from BPK findings in the Muara Enim Regency’s financial report. In May 2026, Edison allegedly instructed the Assistant for Economic Affairs and Development, Rusdi Hairullah, to handle the BPK audit report through a private sector individual named Augusz Dewanggara, also known as Angga. Rusdi then reportedly ordered Abi Nurwardani to meet Angga through an intermediary named Mulyono to negotiate a fee to manipulate the audit results. Angga informed them that the fee required to change the audit findings was around Rp 1.6 billion, calculated as a percentage of the infrastructure and procurement budget ceilings.
After an agreement was reached, Angga allegedly assembled a team to falsify the audit results, contacting Titin Rita Lestari, a civil servant serving as a technical controller. Abi prepared the requested funds, which included money received from Fika, the Director of PT MSA, via Cory, the provider for the smart board project within the Muara Enim Education and Culture Office. Abi allegedly received Rp 500 million from PT MSA and distributed the money, giving Rp 100 million to Angga and Rp 100 million to Mulyono, while approximately Rp 300 million was delivered to South Sumatra, part of which was for Edison. The KPK also suspects Angga had previously received Rp 50 million from Abi.
The KPK has seized evidence including documents, cars, electronic devices, and Rp 200 million in cash from Angga and Mulyono. The KPK named five suspects in this case: Angga as a private party, Titin Rita Lestari as a civil servant and Technical Controller, Edison as the Regent of Muara Enim, Cory Erin Hardi as marketing for PT Millenium Solusi Abadi, and Fika as Director of PT Millenium Solusi Abadi.