Gowa Regent Sitti Husniah named suspect in extortion and money laundering case

Sitti Husniah Talenrang, the Regent of Gowa, has been named a suspect by the National Police’s Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortastipidkor) for alleged extortion, gratification, and money laundering involving regional licensing processes between 2025 and 2026.

Investigators have identified four primary clusters of illicit activity. These include demanding illegal fees from housing developers for spatial planning approvals (PKKPR), extorting funds from Indomaret minimarket expansions under the guise of corporate social responsibility, manipulating building permit (PBG) processes, and soliciting sponsorships for the Beautiful Malino festival. In one instance, a developer allegedly received a 70 percent discount on a Rp1.4 billion home as a condition for permit approval.

Authorities have seized assets totaling approximately Rp5.58 billion to facilitate asset recovery. The seized items include a house in Royal Spring, Gowa, valued at Rp1.4 billion; a house in Waterfront, Makassar, valued at Rp3.5 billion; and a 2025 Toyota HiAce worth Rp682 million.

Police have emphasized that the investigation is proceeding without external intervention, despite the suspect being the sister of former police official Komjen (Purn) Fadil Imran. Following her designation as a suspect, the South Sulawesi Provincial Government is expected to report to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the potential temporary suspension of her duties, which would allow Vice Regent Darmawansyah Muin to assume leadership functions.