Recidivist at the Heart of Land Office Corruption Octopus

A scandal involving hundreds of billions of rupiah in corruption funds is flowing through the ranks of officials and the inner circle of the Minister of Agrates and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN). One such individual is Fahd El Fouz, also known as Fahd A Rafiq. He has been arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) three times within a decade, underscoring a lack of deterrent effect from prison sentences.

Fahd is not an official within the Ministry of ATR/BPN; he is a private individual and serves as the Chairman of the Golkar Party DPP for Community Organisation Relations. However, according to the KPK, Fahd is alleged to hold a special position as a ‘trusted person’ of the Minister of ATR/BPN, Nusron Wahid. This position is precisely what places Fahd within the framework of the case. The KPK alleges that Fahd acted as a collector of funds gathered by individuals within Nusron Wahid’s circle. Within this corruption vortex, KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo explained that Arif Sugiyanto, Erwin, and Muhammad Fakhry are also implicated as allies of Fahd.

“These parties are also alleged to be trusted individuals and representatives of the Minister of ATR/BPN. These parties allegedly received money from other parties. This means they also allegedly knew the role of each individual (Erwin, Arif, and Fahd),” Budi told detikX.

Budi stated that investigators did not initially target specific names, including Fahd or others in Nusron’s circle. Their names emerged after investigators scrutinised information and evidence found during the investigation process. “It flowed naturally. We followed the information, clues, and evidence. We did not target specific individuals, but simply followed the existing evidence. There was information regarding such and such, and there was the handover of money; that is the fact,” Budi added.

The corrupt funds also allegedly stem from gratifications related to mutations, promotions, and other land services within the Ministry of ATR/BPL. “Furthermore, there are allegations of routine payment practices and payments related to official positions,” he noted.

Acting Director of KPK Investigations, Achmad Taufik, explained that Nusron’s trusted associates received gratifications regarding the processing of Land Cultivation Rights (HGB) for land managed by PT Bela Parahyangan (BPA) amounting to Rp 2.1 billion. Former Regent of Kebumen Arif Sugiyanto, Muhammad Fakhry, and Erwin acted as collectors and depositors of the gratification money related to those land services, which was then handed over to Fahd.

“Subsequently, these funds were given to Mr. FEZ, a private individual alleged to be a trusted person of the Minister of ATR/BPN. Mr. FEZ is also alleged to be the repository for money collected by Mr. ARF,” said Taufik.

The KPK also discovered further receipts by Lampri (LMP), the Director General of Land Control and Enforcement at the Ministry of ATR/BPN, amounting to Rp 8 billion. “From the investigation, cash deposits of Rp 10 billion were also found on 7 September 2026 from ARF’s account transfers, along with other receipts allegedly originating from land service matters. The money was stored in suitcases and cardboard boxes,” Taufik said during a press conference at the KPK, South Jakarta, on Tuesday, 15 September 2026.

The KPK is continuing further investigations into the origins and flow of the corruption funds. So far, the money seized by the KPK team in this case has reached hundreds of billions of rupiah. “In this series of caught-in-the-act events, the KPK team also secured several pieces of evidence, including electronic evidence (BBE) and cash totalling approximately Rp 106.3 billion,” he continued.

A Corruption Recidivist

Fahd A Rafiq has been proven to commit corruption offences twice before. He previously served approximately 5.5 years in prison. About a week ago, he was caught in a sting operation (OTT). This is his third time entangled in corruption cases, all handled by the KPK.

Initially, in 2012, the KPK named him a suspect in a bribery case involving the Regional Infrastructure Adjustment Fund (DPID). At that time, Fahd was proven to have provided Rp 5.5 billion to a member of the DPR RI Budget Committee, Wa Ode Nurhayati, to ensure that three regencies in Aceh Besar, Pidie Jaya, and Bener Meriah received DPID allocations for the 2011 fiscal year. Fahd, who then served as the Chairman of the Gema Ormas MKGR movement, was only sentenced to 2.6 years in prison and a fine of Rp 50 million. He was released from Sukamiskin Prison in early September 2014. After his release, he returned to politics, eventually becoming the Chairman of the Golkar Party Youth Wing (AMPG).

Fahd was also cited by the judges as being involved alongside former DPR member Zulkarnaen Djabar and his son, Denty Prasetia, in manipulating budget discussions for the Ministry of Religious Affairs and securing winning bidders for projects. In that case, Fahd was sentenced to 4 years in prison and a fine of Rp 200 million. The judges stated that Fahd was proven to have received bribes of Rp 3.411 billion related to the procurement of Al-Qur’an in 2011-2012 and computer laboratories for MTs under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

After Fahd was released from prison, the Golkar Party reappointed him to a structural position. At the time of his recent arrest, Fahd’s status was Chairman of the Golkar DPP for Community Organisations. Notably, according to the current term of office, Fahd is set to hold this position until at least 2029.

Golkar Party Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia spoke regarding the member of his leadership being named a suspect in a KPK corruption case. He described it as a misfortune. “We feel struck, but we, Golkar, will look forward. This is all a misfortune that, of course, not everyone wants,” said Bahlil at the Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta, on Thursday, 17 September 2026.