Two Regents Arrested by Corruption Commission in Two Separate Raids Within One Week
JAKARTA — Indonesia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has arrested two regents in two separate sting operations within a single week.
Firstly, in Semarang, the KPK arrested Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq along with his aide and confidants on the early morning of Tuesday, 3 March 2026.
One week later, in Bengkulu, the KPK arrested Rejang Lebong Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari on the evening of Monday, 9 March 2026.
Fadia is alleged to have been involved in a comprehensive scheme including establishing a family company, PT Raja Nusantara Berjaya (RNB), participating in procurement projects within the Pekalongan Regency administration, directing subordinates to award contracts to his company, and channelling billions of rupiah in profits back to his family circle.
The KPK revealed that Fadia benefited substantially from the numerous procurement projects for goods and services carried out by PT RNB across multiple regional agencies within Pekalongan Regency. During 2025, PT RNB dominated procurement contracts in Pekalongan, executing outsourcing services across 17 regional agencies, 3 district hospitals, and 1 sub-district.
Between 2023 and 2026, PT RNB received transactions worth Rp46 billion from contracts with Pekalongan Regency agencies. Of this amount, only Rp22 billion was used for outsourcing employee salaries.
Based on sufficient evidence, the KPK designated Fadia Arafiq as a suspect and ordered his detention for 20 days at the Red and White Building detention facility in Jakarta. He faces corruption charges under Articles 12(i) and 12B of Law No. 31 of 1999 on Corruption Eradication, as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001, in conjunction with Article 127(1) of Law No. 1 of 2023 (the Criminal Code).
KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that Muhammad Fikri Thobari and others were brought to Jakarta following the sting operation in Bengkulu on Monday evening. Several individuals were secured and transported to Jakarta on Tuesday morning for further investigation.
The KPK has not yet disclosed the evidence seized or the specific charges against Rejang Lebong Regent Thobari and his associates.