Riau Governor Requests House Arrest Like Former Minister Yaqut

Suspended Riau Governor Abdul Wahid is undergoing a prosecution hearing for the alleged extortion case against his subordinates at the Riau Public Works Department Technical Implementation Unit at the Pekanbaru Corruption Court. During the hearing, Abdul Wahid’s legal counsel requested that their client be placed under house arrest, similar to former Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. The request was made during the prosecution reading agenda. Three defendants were present: Abdul Wahid, Arief Setiawan, and Dani Nursallam. First, the legal team plans to challenge the KPK prosecutor’s indictment. Second, they requested that the trial process separate the defendants for various reasons, including cramped rooms and the number of legal counsels. “We request that the examination of the three defendants be conducted separately. This is to allow the panel of judges to focus more on the evidence in the future,” said Abdul Wahid’s legal counsel after the prosecution hearing, as reported by detikSumut on Thursday (26/3/2026). Next, the legal counsel raised the third point, requesting the transfer of Abdul Wahid’s detention from Pekanbaru Detention Centre to house arrest. The legal counsel also explained the reasons for the request, including the recent transfer of detention for Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and health reasons. “Third, the defendant also wishes to request a transfer of detention from the detention centre to house arrest. This is based on Article 108 paragraphs 5 and 11 of the Criminal Procedure Code and the precedent of one of the suspects, Mr YC, being transferred to house arrest. The reasons are the defendant’s health, Mr Abdul Wahid, and a family guarantee letter from Mr Abdul Wahid’s family,” said the legal counsel. The panel of judges leading the hearing then asked Abdul Wahid if he had anything to say. Abdul Wahid only replied ‘the same’ as his legal counsel. “Do you have anything to say, Mr Abdul Wahid?” said the chief judge. “The same,” Abdul Wahid replied.