Non-Active Riau Governor Abdul Wahid Sentenced to 8.5 Years in Prison for Alleged Extortion
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors have demanded a sentence of eight years and six months’ imprisonment for suspended Riau Governor Abdul Wahid in a corruption case heard at the Pekanbaru District Court on Thursday (9 July).
The defendant, Abdul Wahid, was also charged with a fine of Rp500 million as well as restitution of Rp1.45 billion. The sentencing demand was read out by KPK prosecutor Meyer Simanjuntak in a session presided over by Chief Judge Delta Tamtama.
“Against the defendant Abdul Wahid, a prison sentence of eight years and six months shall be imposed, less time already served in detention, with an order that the defendant remain in custody,” said the KPK prosecutor.
The demand for a Rp500 million fine carries the provision that if it is not paid within one month, it may be substituted by the seizure and auction of the defendant’s assets or income by prosecutors to settle the fine. If that is still not possible, it may be replaced by 140 days’ imprisonment.
Suspended Riau Governor Abdul Wahid is also required to pay restitution amounting to Rp1.45 billion.
“With the provision that if the defendant does not pay the restitution within one month of the court ruling gaining legal force, his assets may be seized by prosecutors and auctioned to cover the restitution,” he said.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant Abdul Wahid has been legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing corruption jointly, as regulated and punishable under Article 12 letter E in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, in conjunction with Article 20 letter C of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, as read in the first alternative indictment.
The alleged corruption case began with a KPK sting operation (OTT) in early November 2025. The KPK named three suspects in the case, who subsequently faced a marathon trial at the Pekanbaru District Court.
Besides Abdul Wahid, the two other defendants are the Riau Governor’s expert staffer, Dani M Nursalam, and the head of the Riau Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency, M Arief Setiawan. The KPK has also named the Riau Governor’s adjutant, Marjani, as a suspect.
The KPK alleges that an extortion racket was practised against the heads of the Road and Bridge Technical Implementation Units at the Riau Public Works Agency between April and November 2025. The total funds extorted and circulated amounted to Rp3.55 billion.