Six Facts About Cilacap Regent Extorting Subordinates Hundreds of Millions for Eid Allowance
The Regent of Cilacap, Syamsul Auliya Rachman (AUL), was caught in a KPK sting operation related to allegations of extorting subordinates. The proceeds from the extortion were allegedly intended to be used by Syamsul for distributing Eid allowances (THR) and personal purposes.
According to reports compiled on Sunday (15/3/2026), Syamsul was apprehended in the KPK sting operation on Friday (13/3). Syamsul was subsequently designated as a suspect along with the Regional Secretary of Cilacap Regency, Sadmoko Danardono (SAD). The following are the key facts:
- Regent and Regional Secretary Detained
KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu, in a press conference at KPK headquarters in South Jakarta on Saturday (14/3), stated that Syamsul and Sadmoko were designated as suspects in the alleged extortion case. Both were designated as suspects following a 1x24-hour examination after being caught in the sting operation.
“The KPK then escalated this case to the investigation stage and designated two suspects: first, AUL as Regent of Cilacap for the 2025-2030 period; secondly, SAD as Regional Secretary of Cilacap Regency,” Asep said.
Regent Syamsul and Regional Secretary Sadmoko were immediately detained. The detention was set for an initial 20 days.
The suspects were charged with violating Article 12 letter e and/or Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Corruption, in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.
- Regent Asked Regional Secretary to Collect Money for Eid Allowance
It was revealed that Syamsul asked Sadmoko Danardono to collect contributions for the purpose of Eid allowances in 2026. Asep stated that Sadmoko targeted collections from each regional device totalling 750 million rupiah against a stated need of 515 million rupiah. He targeted each work unit to contribute 75-100 million rupiah.
“That AUL as Regent of Cilacap for the 2025-2030 period, in connection with Eid al-Fitr 1447 H, ordered SAD as Regional Secretary of Cilacap Regency to collect money for the purpose of distributing Eid allowances for personal purposes and external parties,” Asep said.
“Although in actual implementation, the contributions received varied, ranging from 3 million to 100 million rupiah per regional device,” he added.
Syamsul requested that the contributions be submitted by 13 March 2026. If they failed to submit, the regional devices would be pursued by the regent’s assistants assisted by the Head of the Civil Service Police and the Head of the Food Security Service of Cilacap.
- Collections of 610 Million Rupiah Gathered
A total of 610 million rupiah was collected for the Eid allowance. The money was then submitted to Sadmoko by one of the assistants named Ferry Adhi Dharma.
“Subsequently, during the period of 9-13 March 2025, a total of 23 regional devices of Cilacap Regency had submitted the regent’s request which was collected through FER with a total reaching 610 million rupiah,” Asep said.
- Services and Health Centres Targeted to Collect 750 Million Rupiah
The KPK revealed that Syamsul had set targets whilst extorting various services and health centres to provide Eid allowances to Forkopimda. The KPK stated the target reached up to 750 million rupiah.
“Money from each regional device in Cilacap Regency with ‘contribution targets’ reaching 750 million rupiah,” Asep said.
Asep also explained that from the total target, each work unit was asked to contribute money ranging from 75 million to 100 million rupiah. He stated that Cilacap Regency has 25 regional devices, 2 regional general hospitals, and 20 health centres.
“Initially, each work unit was targeted to be able to contribute money of 75 million to 100 million rupiah. Although in actual implementation, the contributions received varied, ranging from 3 million to 100 million rupiah per regional device,” Asep revealed.
- Allegedly Extorting Since 2025
The KPK revealed facts regarding the alleged extortion case involving Syamsul. The KPK suspects the extortion practice had been occurring since 2025.
“In intensive examination, the KPK also found evidence of similar practices occurring in 2025,” Asep said.
“So this Eid allowance distribution was not only for the holiday in 2026, but also in 2025 it had already occurred, except at that time, it was not monitored by us, nor was there any information that had reached us,” he continued.
The KPK suspects that Syamsul Auliya instructed one of his staff to collect money from various regional devices. The money was allegedly used to meet external Eid allowance requirements.
“Where AUL is suspected of instructing one of his staff to collect money from regional devices to meet external Eid allowance requirements,” he said.
Asep stated that if this year the practice had not been exposed, there was potential for similar practices to be repeated.
“So this has already been repeated, and if this year it had not been caught red-handed, then it is highly likely that subsequently it would be repeated in the same way,” he said.
- Threatened Department Heads That Not Submitting Funds Would Result in Transfer
The KPK revealed that there were threats from Syamsul to department heads who refused to comply with the request to provide Eid allowances. The KPK stated that department heads were threatened with being transferred by Regent Syamsul if they did not comply.
“So some witnesses that from 13, there were heads, they conveyed that indeed there was concern. If the request from AUL were not fulfilled, then they would be transferred and so on, like that, yes. They were considered disloyal to their regent’s orders,” Asep said.