Public Budget Considered Political Commodity, Central Lampung Corruption Devils Circle Continues To Repeat

JAKARTA The determination of the Central Lampung Regent for the period 2025-2030 Ardito Wijaya as a corruption suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been in the spotlight. Not only because he has only served for nine months, but also because Central Lampung seems to have not been separated from the circle of corruption since 2008.

Ardito was caught in a hand arrest operation (OTT) by the KPK on Wednesday (10/12/2025) along with four other people, namely Central Lampung DPRD member Riki Hendra Saputra, Central Lampung Regent Ranu Hari Prasetyo's younger brother, Plt. Head of Central Lampung Regional Revenue Agency Anton Wibowo, and from the private sector Director of PT Elkaka Mandiri Mohamad Lukman.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo, Ardito has set a 15-20 percent fee for a number of projects in Central Lampung since he was sworn in in February 2025. Ardito is also suspected of receiving a fee of IDR 5.25 billion and IDR 500 million from the procurement of medical devices.

The KPK said that most of the total money Ardito received was used to pay off bank loans used by the 2024 campaign.

The determination of Ardito Wijaya as a suspect also opened a dark sheet of Rasuah practice in the area. Since 2008, the head of the Central Lampung region has always been caught in a similar case. Bandar Lampung University (UBL) legal observer and academic Benny Karya Limantara emphasized that Central Lampung needed major reforms to stop the circle of corruption.

The confinement of Central Lampung Regent Ardito Wijaya through the KPK OTT became ironic, because it occurred shortly after he attended the World Anti-Corruption Day in Nuwo Balak, Gunungsugiah. When appearing at the event, he was enthusiastic about fighting corruption.

Ardito's arrest has also further emphasized the circle of corruption that seems difficult to stop in Central Lampung Regency. So far, three regents in the district have been caught in a corruption case of misuse of the Regional Revenue and Dutch Budget (APBD).

According to a number of sources, previously there was Regent Andy Achmad who was caught in the Central Lampung APDB corruption case in 2008. The state lost Rp28 billion due to his actions. Then in 2018 Mustafa was dragged into the bribery case of PT SMI's loan approval and dozens of DPRD members.

For this phenomenon, UBL legal observer and academic Benny Karya Limantara said Central Lampung seemed to have a circle of corruption that never broke.

"In the last two decades, only the actor has changed, the pattern of corruption remains the same. Almost a photocopy," said Benny.

Since the 2008 case, then 2018, and it will repeat itself this year, reflecting the breakdown of the structure of local power, not just individual mistakes.

What is damaged is the culture of budget politics and the weakness of the monitoring system. Every change of regional head only gives birth to new actors on the same stage," he explained.

He also explained how the approval of the APBD and regional loans has always been a vulnerable point in budget management. Negotiation relations between regional heads and the DPRD open up space for transactions when political, project and electoral interests meet.

Mustafa's case is the clearest evidence of how regional loans can be transformed into political commodities. Ironically, the deterrent effect never appears," said Benny again.

Repeated incidents in Central Lampung were exacerbated due to weak internal supervision, so that the corruption route that has been open since 2008 has never been completely closed.

The regional inspectorate, said Benny, was not yet independent, while the BPK only dropped after the loss occurred, and the relevant ministries only assessed the technical feasibility, not the integrity of officials. Even the KPK intervention is reactive, not prevention.

For this reason, Central Lampung needs comprehensive improvement, not only hoping for the KPK OTT which only breaks the chain at the level of the perpetrators.

"If you rely solely on OTT, Central Lampung will continue to be in the cycle of cases that repeat every five to seven years," he said.

He proposed three major reform steps to improve the system. First, said Benny, the total reform of regional loan approval mechanisms, including technical ratification through independent committees, open discussions, and including aspects of official integrity in the assessment.

The two full digitizations of APBD management so that any changes in the budget are recorded and can be monitored by the public in real-time. The three public supervision is strengthened as the front line, involving media, civil society, and academics in social audits.

According to Benny, Central Lampung needs a cultural change in view of the public budget.

"The budget is not a political commodity, the loan is not a rent-profit arena, and public office is not a shortcut to enrich oneself. As long as the transaction space in budget politics remains open, cases 2008, 2018, and 2025 will only be repeated episodes waiting for new actors," he said.