Limited by Tickets, KPK Interlocutes Private Suspects in the Langkat Regent Bribery Case at the Medan Police

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that the suspect in the Langkat Regent Syah Afandin bribery case, Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu'arif, was still being held in the Medan Police detention center, North Sumatra. The limited tickets were said to be the reason why the private party was not taken to the KPK Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta after being caught in a hand-to-hand operation (OTT).

"The private sector that was not brought in was indeed because there were obstacles in the area," said Acting Director of KPK Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein to reporters at the KPK Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, early Saturday, July 4.

Taufik explained that during the silent operation, the KPK team secured a number of parties at different locations and times. So, there needs to be a follow-up process before being sent to Jakarta.

However, after the follow-up process was completed, all seats on the flight to Jakarta were filled.

"The last moments when he was brought in there were limitations on flight tickets so that the only thing that could be brought was the state organizer," he said.

Therefore, Yaqub was temporarily placed in the Medan Police Detention House. Meanwhile, Syah Afandin, said Taufik, was taken to Jakarta to be detained at the KPK Red and White Building Branch State Detention House (Rutan).

As previously reported, the KPK named Syah Afandin as a suspect in receiving bribes and Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu'arif as a suspect in giving bribes related to projects at the Education Office and the Langkat Regency Housing and Residential Area (Perkim).

In addition to the alleged project bribes, the KPK also found indications of other gratification received by Syah Afandin with a value of at least IDR 3.5 billion. The allegations are related to mutations and filling positions in the Langkat Regency Government, the appointment of school principals, to the procurement of school uniforms which are still being investigated by investigators.

As a result of his actions, Syah Afandin is suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or letter b and/or Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001.

Meanwhile, Yaqub, as the party suspected of giving bribes, was charged with Article 605 or Article 606 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustment in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.