Tulungagung Regent's Trick to Escape Legal Troubles: 'Sacrifices' Subordinates Using 2 Letters

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo (GSW) of employing a modus operandi of alleged extortion by using letters signed by heads of regional government organisations (OPD) to escape legal entanglements. “Mr GSW wanted to get away scot-free if this became a case or a finding,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Saturday night, 11 April 2026. Asep explained that initially, Gatut Sunu asked OPD heads, such as department chiefs, to sign statements resigning from their positions and civil servant (ASN) status. In addition, he said, the Tulungagung Regent asked them to sign letters taking absolute responsibility for the management of their OPD’s budgets. “So, there is absolute responsibility, where the person in question is responsible for budget management. Whatever happens, they will be fully accountable. They were also asked to sign that. So, there are these two letters,” Asep stated. These two letters, he said, were signed by OPD heads intentionally without dates, even though they were stamped with revenue stamps, and no copies were provided. Then, when findings arise from audits by the Financial Audit Board (BPK) or the regional inspectorate, the OPD head is deemed responsible as per the signed letter. “When audited, whether by BPK or the inspectorate. For example, why was a certain amount of money taken from a public works project? It has been prepared with the absolute responsibility letter. So, whatever happens to the budget, say in Public Works, the department head is absolutely responsible,” he clarified. Previously, the KPK conducted a sting operation (OTT) in the Tulungagung area, East Java, on 10 April 2026. The KPK arrested 18 people in that OTT, including Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo and his blood brother, Tulungagung DPRD member Jatmiko Dwijo Saputro. A day later, on 11 April 2026, the KPK brought Gatut Sunu Wibowo and his brother, along with 11 others, to Jakarta for intensive examination. On the same date, the KPK announced Gatut Sunu Wibowo (GSW) and Dwi Yoga Ambal (YOG), his aide, as suspects in the alleged extortion and other gratuities case in the Tulungagung Regency Government environment for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.