Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq Almost Evaded the KPK Pursuit, Arrested While Charging an Electric Car

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) says it almost lost track of Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq during an Operation Tangkap Tangan (OTT) in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday night (3 March 2026). Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu said Fadia was eventually located again in the early hours of Tuesday. ‘The team moved to Semarang. We nearly lost track of the person. It was around midnight before we found her and could secure her,’ Asep said at a press conference at the Merah Putih Building, Jakarta, on Wednesday (4 March 2026).

‘Asep said that although they nearly lost track of Fadia, the KPK had information about the type and registration number of the car she used. ’When we arrived in Semarang, it was a stroke of luck. It turned out the electric car was being charged again. There, (SPKLU) we found her,’ he said.

‘Previously, the KPK designated Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq as a suspect in a case of alleged corruption in outsourcing services procurement and other procurements in the Pekalongan Regency Government for the 2023-2026 period. Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu said the status of the suspect was determined based on sufficient evidence. Fadia Arafiq initially was apprehended in an OTT in Semarang, on Tuesday (3/3/2026). ’KPK has elevated the case to the investigation stage by naming one person as suspect, namely FAR (Fadia Arafiq) as Pekalongan Regent for the 2025-2030 period,’ he said in a press conference at the Merah Putih Building, Jakarta, on Wednesday (4/3/2026). ‘Detention is carried out at the Rutan (State Detention Centre) Gedung Merah Putih KPK branch,’ he added.

’Asep said the case began when Fadia Arafiq, who had just one year in office as Pekalongan Regent for the 2021-2025 period, established a company with her husband, who is also a member of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Mukhtaruddin Ashraff Abu, and their son who is a member of the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), Muhammad Sabiq Ashraff, named PT RNB (Raja Nusantara Berjaya). PT RNB is a company engaged in providing services that is actively involved as a vendor in Pekalongan Regency Government’s goods and services procurement. Asep said Muhammad Sabiq Ashraff served as commissioner of PT RNB and Muhammad Sabiq Ashraff served as director.