Sukoharjo Regent Arrested by KPK After Landslide Victory Against Empty Ballot

Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani has been arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in the Soloraya region, Central Java, on Thursday, 9 July 2026. She was apprehended along with four other individuals in connection with an alleged extortion case. The KPK has not yet disclosed the full details of the case.

Etik, a PDIP cadre, was elected for a second term after securing a landslide victory against an empty ballot box in the 2024 regional elections. She won 319,396 votes, or 66.76% of the total valid votes, while the empty ballot box received 159,256 votes, or 33.24%. She ran alongside her running mate, Gerindra cadre Eko Sapto Purnomo, with the support of 12 political parties, including PDIP, Gerindra, PKB, Golkar, NasDem, PAN, PKS, Demokrat, Partai Buruh, PSI, PBB, and Perindo.

Etik is the wife of former Sukoharjo Regent Wardoyo Wijaya, who served two terms from 2010 to 2021. In her first term, she was accompanied by Deputy Regent Agus Santosa, a former civil servant.

KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo confirmed the arrest on Friday (10/7), stating, “This case is related to the alleged extortion by the regent against regional apparatus officials in Sukoharjo Regency.” The KPK has 24 hours, in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), to determine the legal status of the regent and the other individuals caught in the operation.