Palace Asserts President Will Not Interfere in Ministry Case Involving Nusron
The Deputy Minister of State Secretary, Bambang Eko Suharianto, stated that President Prabowo Subianto will not interfere if any cabinet members become entangled in alleged legal issues.
This statement was made in response to allegations regarding the involvement of the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), Nusron Wahid, in a suspected bribery and other illegal gratification case within the Ministry of ATR/BPN.
“We leave it to the authorities. The President always says that if there are legal issues and so on, leave it to the law enforcement agencies. Therefore, he will not want to interfere in such matters,” said Bambang at the parliamentary complex, Jakarta, on Wednesday (16/9).
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is previously deepening its investigation into the alleged involvement of Nusron Wahid in the suspected bribery and other illegal gratification case within the Ministry of ATR/BPN. This investigation follows the fact that four individuals believed to be trusted associates of Nusron were involved in the alleged corruption and have been named as suspects.
“Regarding NW [Nusron Wahid], it has been mentioned in the examinations. This is indeed being deepened by the investigative team in the investigation process,” said the Acting Director of Investigation at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, during a press conference at the Merah Putih Building, Jakarta, on Tuesday (15/9) night.
Taufik explained that a sting operation (OTT) has a 24-hour window to determine the legal status of the parties caught in the act. In this case, the KPK detained 19 people in the Greater Jakarta area on Monday, 14 September 2026. The number of detainees has been updated from the previously reported 17 people.
Taufik noted that investigating only one party would not provide enough time to uncover all the facts, as further stages and more time are required. Within the short 24-hour window, the KPK must determine the legal status of the parties involved through a case review or exposé.
“We will see how far this can develop; we will see how the investigation progresses in the future. This is still in the early stages of the Investigation Order (Sprindik) itself,” said Taufik.
The KPK has previously named eight individuals as suspects and has ordered detention for the first 20 days until 4 October 2026. Four of these eight suspects are alleged by the KPK to be trusted associates of Nusron.
These individuals include the former Regent of Kebumen, Arif Sugiyanto; Golkar Party politician, Fahd El Fouz (also known as Fahd A Rafiq); Erwin (private sector); and Muhammad Fakhry (private sector).
The other four suspects undergoing legal proceedings are the Head of the Bogor Regency Land Office, Sontag Coin Manurung; President Director of PT Summarecon Agung Tbk, Adrianto Pitojo Adhi; the Director General of Land and Spatial Control and Order at the Ministry of ATR/BPN, Lampri; and Rizal Pahlevi (private sector).