Tulungagung Regent Forces Newly Appointed OPD Officials to Sign Two Letters for Use in Extortion

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo forced newly appointed regional officials or device organisations (OPD) to sign two statements that were later used to pressure them. “Following the appointment, Mr Gatut asked the officials to sign resignation statements from their positions and as civil servants (ASN) if they were unable to carry out the tasks and responsibilities given,” said Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, during a press conference at the KPK’s Red and White Building on Saturday (11/4/2026). The appointments took place in December 2025. After the ceremony, the officials were called one by one into a room without their mobile phones. They were instructed to sign the letters on stamp duty paper. However, the dates on the letters were left blank. In addition to the resignation statements, several officials were also asked to sign letters of absolute responsibility for budget management in their respective work units. “So, there is absolute responsibility, where the individual is fully accountable for any budget management issues that occur, and they were asked to sign that as well,” Asep added. These two letters were used by Gatut to pressure the 16 existing OPDs. “If, for example, the Regent feels—or in this case, Mr Gatut feels—that the work of the regional apparatus is not right or not loyal to him, he just needs to fill in the date according to the current day,” he explained. “Those who are not aligned with the Regent face the threat of being removed from their positions or even resigning from the ASN,” Asep stated. The KPK has designated Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo and his aide Dwi Yoga Ambal as suspects in the alleged extortion and unlawful receipt of other benefits case. “The KPK has named two suspects: Gatut Sunu Wibowo as Regent of Tulungagung for the 2025-2030 period, and Mr Dwi Yoga Ambal as the Regent’s aide,” said Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, during the press conference at the KPK’s Red and White Building on Saturday (11/4/2026). Asep explained that Gatut allegedly pressured the heads of regional device organisations (OPD) within the Tulungagung Regency Government after the official appointment process.