Riau DPRD Member Detained for Using Someone Else’s Diploma to Contest the Legislative Elections

Investigators from the Corruption Crime Unit (Unit Tipikor) of the Pelalawan Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) in Riau have formally detained suspect Sunardi. The Pelalawan DPRD member from the Golkar faction is detained on suspicion of deliberately using someone else’s diploma to become a participant in the 2024 Legislative Elections.

‘Indeed, the suspect Sunardi has been detained,’ said Pelalawan Police Chief AKBP John Letedara on Wednesday, 4 March, as quoted by detikSumut. John confirmed Sunardi was detained after undergoing further questioning as a suspect last week. Sunardi arrived accompanied by his legal counsel.

‘He has undergone further questioning as a suspect. He was immediately detained by the investigative team,’ John said.

Sunardi was named a suspect in mid-January 2026. The designation followed a lengthy investigation carried out by the Satreskrim investigative team of the Pelalawan Police.

Sunardi faces charges under Article 263(2) of the Indonesian Penal Code (use of false or forged documents) or Article 391(2) of Law No. 1 of 2023 on criminal law (use of false documents as if genuine).

The investigative team from Tipikor Satreskrim Polres Pelalawan will soon hand over the case file (BAP) to the Pelalawan Kejari, ensuring the fake-diploma case proceeds to trial soon.

Previously, John said the diploma Sunardi used belonged to another person. It was used for personal reasons to participate in the 2024 elections, ultimately resulting in his seat as a Pelalawan DPRD member from the Golkar party.

‘This relates to a fake diploma; the diploma Sunardi used was a different person’s for a Paket C credential. For now, he is not detained as he is due to be summoned again next week,’ he said some time ago.

Sunardi’s diploma has been a matter of dispute for several years because the diploma used to stand for public office is alleged to be fake or belong to someone else.

Sunardi remains an active member of the Pelalawan DPRD. He was elected from the Golkar faction for Pelalawan 3 electoral district.

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