Langkat Regent Allegedly Avoids KPK OTT, Turns Around After Attending APKASI Event

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that the Langkat Regent's hand-in-hand operation (OTT) Syah Afandin had leaked. He had turned around and canceled a meeting with the private sector so that the team in the field would not be secured.

Acting Director of KPK Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein who said this OTT series began when Syah Afandin contacted Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu'arif as a private party who was also his success team in the 2024 Pilkada on Wednesday night, July 1. He asked for a fee of Rp. 100 million for the project.

The two meetings were then agreed upon after Syah Afandin attended the agenda of the Association of Regional Governments of All Indonesia (APKASI).

However, the driver of Syah Afandin named Zulkifli contacted Yaqub and asked for the meeting to be canceled around 23.00 WIB.

"We suspect that information about the whereabouts of the KPK team is already known so that the meeting was canceled," Taufik said at a press conference at the KPK Red and White Building, Jakarta, early Saturday, July 4.

Syah Afandin then contacted Yaqub through Syahrial as his trusted person who was also a former member of the North Sumatra Provincial DPRD on Thursday, July 2. He then said that the atmosphere was hot because he was suspected of sniffing the KPK team in the field.

"So the money of Rp. 100 million was asked to be handed over through SYH," said Taufik.

Furthermore, Taufik explained that the money was finally handed over in Medan around 08.00 WIB on Friday, July 3.

"Furthermore, when SYH was on his way to Binjai City, the KPK team managed to secure Rp100 million in cash found under the seat of the front passenger car seat," he said.

In the construction of the case, Syah Afandin allegedly asked for a fee of 10 percent for projects at the Education Office and 17 percent for projects at the Housing and Residential Area Office (Perkim).

Not only that, the KPK also found other alleged gratification receipts worth at least IDR 3.5 billion related to ASN mutations, filling school head positions, to the procurement of school uniforms.

The KPK then named Syah Afandin and Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu'arif as suspects. Syah Afandin was detained at the KPK Red and White Building Branch Detention Center, while Yaqub was placed at the Medan Police Detention Center for the first 20 days from July 3 to July 22, 2026.

As a result of his actions, Syah Afandin as the recipient of the bribe was suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or letter b and/or Article 12 B of Law Number 31 of 1999 jo. Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Corruption Eradication.

Meanwhile, Yaqub as the giver is suspected of violating Article 605 or Article 606 paragraph (1) of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code jo. Law No. 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustment jo Article 20 letter c of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.