Tulungagung Regent and Aide Named as Suspects in Extortion Case

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo (GSW) and his aide Dwi Yoga Ambal (YOG) as suspects in an alleged corruption offence of extortion within the Tulungagung Regency Government in East Java, following a sting operation. KPK Enforcement and Execution Deputy Asep Guntur Rahayu stated that the two individuals were designated as suspects based on sufficient evidence in the alleged corruption case. It is suspected that GSW received around Rp2.7 billion from the extortion activities targeting officials within the Tulungagung Regency Government. “The KPK has subsequently detained the suspects for the initial 20 days from 11 to 30 April 2026. The detention is being carried out at the KPK’s Red and White Building Branch State Detention Centre,” Asep told reporters at the KPK Red and White Building, as quoted on Sunday, 12 April 2026. Regarding the case construction, he explained that the Tulungagung Regent requested his subordinates to sign statements of readiness to resign from their positions and from the civil service if they were unable to carry out the assigned duties and responsibilities. Additionally, several other officials were asked to sign statements of responsibility for budget management in their respective work units. He suspected that these statements were exploited by GSW to control and pressure his officials into being loyal and complying with every order from GSW. It is alleged that the officials were threatened with dismissal from their positions or resignation from the civil service. With this, he explained that GSW is suspected of demanding money from the Heads of Regional Device Organisations (OPD) and other officials, either directly or through his aide YOG, with a total demand of around Rp5 billion. “These demands were made by GSW to at least 16 OPDs within the Tulungagung Regency Government, with varying amounts ranging from Rp15 million to Rp2.8 billion,” he said. For their actions, the suspects are charged with committing a corruption offence as stipulated in Article 12 letter e or Article 12B of Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 on the eradication of criminal acts of corruption in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.