Tragic: Langkat Regent Turns School Uniforms into Graft Opportunity

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named the inactive Regent of Langkat, Syah Afandin, also known as Ondim, as a suspect in an alleged bribery and gratuity case. Ondim is suspected of receiving gratuities totalling Rp 3.5 billion from various sources. He was arrested in a sting operation on Wednesday, 1 July, and taken to the KPK building in South Jakarta for intensive questioning. The KPK alleges that Ondim received bribes from a private party, Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu’arif, who was part of Ondim’s campaign team during the 2024 regional election. After Ondim’s victory, Yaqub secured projects worth Rp 9.5 billion from the Langkat Education Office and Rp 748 million from the Public Housing and Settlement Office. Ondim allegedly demanded a 10 per cent fee from these projects, amounting to Rp 990 million for the education office project and Rp 126.8 million for the housing project. The KPK suspects Ondim had received Rp 800 million from Yaqub by April 2026. In June 2026, Ondim requested an additional Rp 300 million, but Yaqub was reportedly only able to provide Rp 100 million. Beyond the bribery allegations, the KPK also uncovered evidence of gratuities totalling at least Rp 3.5 billion. The sources of these gratuities included payments related to staff mutations and appointments within the Education Office and sub-district heads, as well as the appointment of primary and secondary school headmasters and the procurement of primary school uniforms. A KPK official remarked on the tragedy that even the procurement of school uniforms, a basic need for students, was not spared from corruption. Ondim has been charged under Article 12 letters a or b and/or Article 12 B of the Anti-Corruption Law and is currently detained at the KPK detention centre.