Rejang Lebong Regent Wrote Codes to Secure Preferred Contractors in Tender Scheme
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that Rejang Lebong Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari (MFT) demanded commissions ranging from 10 to 15 percent from contractors. Thobari allegedly wrote codes containing contractor initials designated to win project tenders.
This was disclosed by KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu during a press conference on Wednesday, 11 March 2026. He stated that the case began when the Rejang Lebong Regency administration intended to undertake several projects in early 2026.
The projects were located within the Department of Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing and Settlement Areas (PUPRPKP) of Rejang Lebong Regency. Asep indicated that the total budget for projects under the PUPRPKP department reached Rp 91.13 billion.
Thobari allegedly held meetings with Harry Eko Purnomo, who serves as Head of the PUPRPKP Department and a trusted aide named B Daditama. These meetings allegedly discussed the arrangement of project auctions and the commissions to be obtained.
“During these meetings, there was alleged discussion of the arrangement or plotting of contractors for project work at the PUPRPKP department for the 2026 fiscal year, including discussions regarding commission amounts (ijon) of approximately 10-15 percent of the project value,” said Asep.
Thobari allegedly wrote specific letter codes representing contractor initials that would execute project packages at the Rejang Lebong PUPRPKP on a Physical Work Summary sheet. He then sent this document via WhatsApp to B Daditama.
“MFT then wrote on the Physical Work Summary sheet letter codes representing contractor initials,” he stated.
Subsequently, there was alleged staged transfer of money to Thobari through intermediaries. The details are as follows:
On 26 February 2026, EDM (Edi Manggala) from CV Manggala Utama transferred Rp 330 million (3.4 percent of the project value for pedestrian path and drainage construction plus a sports centre totalling Rp 9.8 billion) through HEP (Harry Eko Purnomo), Head of the PUPRPKP Department in Rejang Lebong;
On 6 March 2026, IRS (Irsyad Satria Budiman) from PT Statika Mitra Sarana transferred Rp 400 million (13.3 percent of the road work project value of Rp 3 billion) through SAG, an official at the PUPRPKP Department;
On 6 March 2026, YK (Youki Yusdiantoro) from CV Alpagker Abadi transferred Rp 250 million (2.3 percent of the project value for arrangement of buildings and environment around the football stadium totalling Rp 11 billion) through REN, an official at the PUPRPKP Department.
Asep stated that there were allegations of other payments to Thobari totalling Rp 775 million, bringing the total alleged bribes to Rp 1.7 billion. He suspected the conduct was repeated on multiple occasions.
“In intensive investigations, the KPK also discovered alleged other receipts by MFT through HEP from various parties using the modus of demanding project commissions from several contractors totalling Rp 775 million. Therefore, this conduct is allegedly a repeated pattern,” he said.
The KPK has designated five individuals as suspects. Details are as follows:
Muhammad Fikri Thobari as Regent of Rejang Lebong for 2025-2030;
Harry Eko Purnomo as Head of the Department of Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing and Settlement Areas (PUPRPKP) in Rejang Lebong;
Irsyad Satria Budiman as a private party from PT Statika Mitra Sarana;
Edi Manggala as a private party from CV Manggala Utama;
Youki Yusdiantoro as a private party from CV Alpagker Abadi.
Thobari and Purnomo are charged under Article 12(a) or 12(b) and/or 12B of the Law on Eradication of Corruption Offences read together with Article 20(c) of the Criminal Code. Meanwhile, the three private parties are charged under Article 605(1) or Article 606(1) of the Criminal Code read together with Law No. 1/2026 on Criminal Penalty Adjustment.