Two Public Works Directors-General resign, a major test of the integrity of the state's oversight system
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has begun targeting auditors from the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK). Marathon investigations continue, prompted by audit findings at the Ministry of Public Works (PU) that led to the resignation of two Directors-General of Public Works.
Criminal law expert Asep Iwan Irawan of Trisakti University says the resignations reflect a repeating pattern. He notes that BPK has historically not learned its lesson, even though some commissioners and staff have been jailed. He suggests that cases involving BPK auditors should be handled by the Attorney General’s Office (Kejaksaan Agung).
“Cases that have implicated BPK auditors should be investigated by the AG’s Office to resolve quickly. The KPK is slow, and I am confident the AG’s Office’s process will conclude properly,” he said in a written statement on Wednesday (4 March).
Meanwhile, Trisakti sociology professor Dr. Trubus Rahardiansah said what is happening now is a major test of the integrity of Indonesia’s national oversight system. Auditors who audit ministries are themselves investigated for alleged irregularities. He added that this should serve as a strong alarm for governance of state oversight.
“The public has a right to know this transparently, particularly the performance of the KPK; there must be no sense that there is a zone of impunity within the auditing body. If ministries can be investigated, auditors must be examined using the same standards,” he said.
He highlighted the KPK’s decision to examine auditors at the BPK in the BPK Building, and argued that legal action must be even-handed. Rule of law supremacy must not bow to institutional symbols, and process transparency is crucial to avoid wild speculation. The resignations of two PU Directors-General demonstrate the substantial political-administrative impact of an audit result.
“The integrity of audit results is key; if the audit is credible, enforcement must be firm, but if the audit is flawed it is far more dangerous. It can erode public trust, and in the wake of trillions of rupiah in findings, the KPK’s actions have been questioned; the public wonders what lies behind the audit and the resignations,” he said.
Earlier, Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo acknowledged that the resignations of Director General for Cipta Karya Dewi Chomistriana and Director General of Water Resources Dwi Purwantoro were directly linked to BPK’s audit findings.
The first letter indicated potential national losses of almost Rp3 trillion; in the second, the figure was revised to around Rp1 trillion.
“It is true that the resignations of the two Directors-General were connected to a BPK finding, and BPK sent two letters to me, as far as I recall, in January 2025 and August 2025. The drastic change raises big questions about what happened in the eight months between those dates: was there restitution? a revision of the calculation? or other dynamics not yet fully disclosed,” he said.
He added that BPK’s recommendations had not initially been acted on and, eventually, a panel was formed to take over with a new work unit so that restitution of state losses could be accelerated without disrupting daily operations. However, the special team he led involved elements from the Attorney General’s Office and, concurrently, the KPK was examining BPK auditors, including Padang Pamungkas and Yudy Ayodya Baruna.
“Anyway, we all must agree that I cannot clean house if my broom is dirty, and those who invite scrutiny—an examination of Yudy was conducted at the BPK Building, not at the KPK’s Red and White Building. Yudy Baruna was merely a BPK auditor. The KPK usually does not show favour, ministers, deputy ministers, executives, or governors are examined at the KPK building,” he concluded.