Prosecutors Detain Bima Education Official Suspected of Extorting 18 Teachers

The High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati) of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has detained the Head of Manpower Development at the Bima Regency Education, Youth, and Sports Office, Ico Rahmawati. She is a suspect in a case of illegal levies and extortion involving recipients of the Special Allowance for Teachers in Remote Areas (TKGDT). “The suspect has been detained at the Class III Women’s Correctional Facility in Mataram,” said Muhammad Harun Al Rasyid, Head of Public Relations for the NTB High Prosecutor’s Office, on Friday (26/6/2026).

The detention followed the transfer of the suspect and evidence from the NTB Regional Police to the prosecutor’s office. Harun revealed that the suspect, Ico Rahmawati, is the Head of Manpower Development at the Bima Regency Education, Youth, and Sports Office. “Today, the suspect and evidence were handed over. She is charged under Article 12 letter e of the Corruption Eradication Act,” he stated.

Previously, the Director of Special Criminal Investigation at the NTB Regional Police, Senior Commissioner FX Endriadi, explained that the suspect had been extorting and collecting illegal fees from recipients of the TKGDT in Tambora District, Bima Regency. “We have named IR a suspect in a corruption case involving extortion and illegal levies against primary school teachers receiving the remote area special allowance,” Endriadi said on Friday (27/2/2026).

The extortion and illegal levies were carried out from 2019 to 2025, with 18 teachers recorded as victims. The suspect allegedly collected between IDR 500,000 and IDR 1 million per disbursement. “Preliminary examination results show the deductions from the TKGDT occurred on a monthly and quarterly basis,” he noted.

The suspect was named after investigators from the Corruption Sub-Directorate gathered at least two pieces of valid evidence and conducted a case review. Investigators examined 24 witnesses and seized related documents. “The investigation revealed that money was handed over by the recipient teachers to be deposited to IR, who was the Head of Manpower at the Bima Regency Education, Youth, and Sports Office,” he disclosed.

According to Endriadi, the teachers admitted to handing over the money because they felt pressured. They feared that if IR’s demands were not met, their next allowance disbursement would not be processed. “The teachers felt compelled to hand over a sum of money because they were worried they would not receive the special allowance in the subsequent phase,” he said.

The Head of the Corruption Sub-Directorate at the NTB Regional Police, AKBP Muhaemin, revealed another finding from witness examinations. “The suspect IR prepared two special accounts to receive deposits from the teachers receiving the remote area allowance,” Muhaemin stated.