Nine KPK Sting Operations Since January 2026; Three Operations During Ramadan
The arrest of Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman represents the ninth sting operation (operasi tangkap tangan or OTT) conducted by the KPK throughout this year and the third operation during Ramadan 1447 Hijriah.
The KPK announced the Cilacap Regent’s arrest on Friday afternoon. In this operation, the anti-corruption agency arrested a total of 27 individuals including Regent Auliya.
The case against the Cilacap Regent pertains to alleged receipt of project fees within the Cilacap Regency Government. The KPK has not provided detailed information on the case; however, the agency confirmed that evidence in the form of cash was seized during the operation.
Under the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), the KPK has 1 x 24 hours to determine the status of those arrested in the sting operation, including the Cilacap Regent who is the head of a regional government in Central Java Province.
A total of nine sting operations have been conducted throughout 2026. The first operation on 9-10 January 2026 resulted in the arrest of eight individuals in connection with alleged bribery in tax examinations at the Jakarta North Medium Tax Service Office under the Directorate General of Taxes at the Ministry of Finance for the 2021-2026 period.
The second operation occurred on 19 January 2026, when the KPK confirmed the arrest of Madiun Mayor Maidi.
The anti-corruption agency announced on 20 January 2026 that Maidi was named a suspect in alleged corruption involving extortion with a modus operandi of project benefits and corporate social responsibility funds as well as other benefits or gratification within the Madiun City Government, East Java.
On 19 January 2026, the KPK conducted the third sting operation and arrested Pati Regent Sudewo. On 20 January 2026, the KPK announced Sudewo as a suspect in alleged extortion related to the appointment of village apparatus positions within the Pati Regency Government, Central Java.
The fourth operation took place on 4 February 2026 at the Banjarmasin Medium Tax Service Office in South Kalimantan. The arrests were related to the tax restitution process within that office.
On 4 February 2026, the KPK announced the fifth sting operation related to the importation of counterfeit or substandard goods. Among those arrested was Rizal, the former Director of Enforcement and Investigation at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise under the Ministry of Finance, who was serving as Head of the West Sumatra Regional Customs Office.
The sixth operation was revealed on 5 February 2026, relating to alleged corruption in the handling of a land dispute spanning 6,500 square metres at the Depok District Court in West Java. The KPK named the Depok District Court Chair I Wayan Eka Mariarta, Depok District Court Vice-Chair Bambang Setyawan, and the Chief Executive of PT Karabha Digdaya, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance, as suspects.
The seventh sting operation was announced on 3 March 2026 during Ramadan. The KPK named Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq as the sole suspect in alleged corruption related to outsourcing services procurement and other procurements within the Pekalongan Regency Government for the 2023-2026 budget period.
The eighth operation also occurred during Ramadan. On 10 March 2026, the KPK announced the arrest and subsequently named Rejang Lebong Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari as a suspect in alleged bribery related to projects within the Rejang Lebong Regency Government, Bengkulu, for the 2025-2026 budget period.