RPTKA Trial: Witness Bayu Denies Posing as KPK Investigator to Extort Rp10 Billion

A witness named Bayu Widodo Sugiarto denied claims that he posed as a Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) official and demanded Rp10 billion from one of the defendants in the alleged corruption case involving the Foreign Worker Utilisation Plan (RPTKA) at the Ministry of Manpower.

Bayu, a former journalist, made the statement when called by KPK prosecutors during the continuation of the trial at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday (19 February).

Bayu confirmed that he knew witness Yora Lovita E. Haloho — the person who first identified “Bayu Sigit” as a KPK investigator alleged to have demanded money from the RPTKA corruption defendant.

Bayu said he had long known Yora through an acquaintance named Iwan. He recounted meeting Yora, Iwan and defendant Gatot Widiartono, who served as Head of the Maritime and Agriculture Sub-directorate at the Directorate General of Labour Placement Development and Employment Expansion (Ditjen Binapenta & PKK) from 2019 to 2021.

“You met Pak Gatot at a rest area, correct? Who was present?” the prosecutor asked.

“Myself, Bu Yora, Pak Iwan, and one other person — a friend of Pak Iwan’s. I only met them at that time,” Bayu said.

The meeting discussed media coverage of the RPTKA corruption case then under KPK investigation. Bayu denied being introduced to Gatot as a “KPK investigator.”

“At the meeting, who were you introduced as? Or how did you introduce yourself?” the prosecutor asked.

“I’m Bayu, sir,” Bayu replied.

“Not Sigit?” the prosecutor pressed.

“No,” Bayu answered.

“Not from KPK?” the prosecutor continued.

“No,” Bayu responded.

Bayu said he could not recall whether Yora had introduced him to Gatot as a “KPK investigator.”

“Do you remember if Bu Yora ever said to Pak Gatot, ‘This is Pak Sigit from KPK’?” the prosecutor asked.

“I don’t remember, sir. As far as I recall, I also introduced myself as Bayu,” Bayu explained.

“Did you ever show a KPK ID or badge?” the prosecutor asked.

“I’ve never had one, sir. I only have leftover press cards,” Bayu said.

In a previous hearing on Thursday (12 February), witness Yora Lovita E. Haloho testified that around March–April 2025, she acted as an intermediary between someone claiming to be a KPK investigator named Bayu Sigit and Gatot Widiartono.

Yora said she came to know Sigit through her friend Iwan Banderas. The RPTKA extortion case was still at the preliminary investigation stage at the KPK at the time.

“A friend said, ‘There’s someone from KPK. There’s a matter at the Ministry of Manpower — do you want help? We’ll help,’” Yora recounted, quoting her acquaintance Iwan Banderas.

According to Yora, a former Gerindra Party legislative candidate, the person claiming to be a KPK investigator said he was aware of the legal case ensnaring Gatot, which was then still at the inquiry stage.

Yora said she believed Bayu Sigit was a KPK investigator because he carried a metal badge bearing the anti-corruption agency’s logo. Bayu Sigit also allegedly sent an official KPK letter requesting testimony in Gatot’s name.

Following this, Yora contacted Memei Meilita Handayani, Head of Executive Affairs and Protocol at the Ministry of Manpower, whom she already knew. Yora said she had business with a ministry official named Gatot Widiartono and requested his contact details.

The KPK has denied the claims, affirming that no investigator named Bayu Sigit works at the anti-corruption body.

Eight former officials at the Ministry of Manpower have been charged with extortion related to the processing of Foreign Worker Utilisation Plans (RPTKA). The defendants allegedly received a total of Rp135.29 billion between 2017 and 2025.

The eight defendants are: Gatot Widiartono, Head of the Maritime and Agriculture Sub-directorate at Ditjen Binapenta & PKK (2019–2021), who also served as Commitment-Making Officer for PPTKA (2019–2024) and Coordinator for Foreign Worker Analysis and Control at the PPTKA Directorate (2021–2025); Putri Citra Wahyoe, Jamal Shodiqin and Alfa Eshad, staff members at the PPTKA Directorate within Ditjen Binapenta & PKK (2019–2024); Director General of Binapenta & PKK (2020–2023) Suhartono; PPTKA Director (2019–2024) later appointed Director General of Binapenta (2024–2025) Haryanto; PPTKA Director (2017–2019) Wisnu Pramono; and Coordinator for PPTKA Endorsement Feasibility Testing (2020–July 2024), later appointed PPTKA Director (2024–2025), Devi Angraeni.

The prosecutors detailed the amounts each defendant allegedly received: Suhartono Rp460 million (2020–2023); Haryanto Rp84.7 billion plus an Innova Reborn vehicle with registration plate B 1354 HKY (2018–2025); Wisnu Pramono Rp25.1 billion plus a Vespa Primavera motorcycle with plate B 4880 BUQ (2017–2019); Devi Angraeni Rp3.25 billion (2017–2025); Gatot Widiartono Rp9.47 billion (2018–2025); Putri Citra Wahyoe Rp6.39 billion (2017–2025); Alfa Eshad Rp5.23 billion (2017–2025); and Jamal Shodiqin Rp551.1 million (2017–2025).

The funds originated from foreign worker agents, both individual and corporate. The total sum amounted to Rp135.29 billion.

RPTKA is a permit for the use of foreign workers for specific positions and durations. Every employer is required to apply through Ditjen Binapenta and PKK at the Ministry of Manpower.

“Between 2017 and 2025, there were 1,134,823 RPTKA endorsements at the PPTKA Directorate, with levies ranging from Rp300,000 to Rp800,000 per foreign worker, resulting in total collections from employers or RPTKA permit processing agents amounting to Rp135.29 billion,” the prosecutor stated when reading the indictment at the hearing on Friday, 12 December 2025.

The defendants have been charged under Article 12(e) or Article 12B in conjunction with Article 18 of the Corruption Eradication Act, read together with Article 55(1)(1) and Article 64(1) of the Criminal Code.