Indonesia KPK charges Langkat Regent Syah Afandin in Rp10 bn project bribery

Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Langkat Regent Syah Afandin and former campaign aide Yaquun Abdhal Al Mu’arif (YQB) as suspects in a bribery case involving 85 public‑works projects worth roughly Rp10.2 billion. The projects, awarded to private firms for the District Education and Housing & Settlement offices in 2025‑2026, were alleged to have required kick‑backs of 10 % and 17 % respectively, amounting to about Rp800 million of the total contract value.

KPK conducted a hand‑cuff operation on 2‑3 July 2026 in Langkat, Binjai and Medan, arresting Afandin, a civil servant, and five private individuals. Afandin was detained at the KPK’s Red‑White Building detention centre in Jakarta for an initial 20‑day period, while YQB was placed in a Medan police lockup. Authorities also seized cash amounting to several hundred million rupiah that were tied to the alleged project bribes.

The KPK stated, “KPK menaikkan perkara ini ke tahap penyidikan dengan menetapkan dua orang sebagai tersangka,” confirming the elevation of the case to a formal investigation stage.