Named a Corruption Suspect, Regent Abdul Azis Conditions the Construction of East Kolaka Hospital and Requests a Fee Commitment

Evidence of the KPK OTT related to the East Kolaka Regent Abdul Azis/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has officially named five suspects in an alleged bribery case related to the construction of the East Kolaka Regional General Hospital (RSUD).

The five suspects are East Kolaka Regent Abd Azis, the Ministry of Health's PIC for RSUD Construction, Andi Lukman Hakim, the Commitment Making Officer (PPK) for the East Kolaka RSUD Construction Project, Ageng Dermanto, a representative of PT Pilar Cerdas Putra (PCP), Deddy Karnady, and PT PCP's Joint Operations Operations Operation (KSO), Arif Rahman. They were initially caught in a sting operation (OTT) on Thursday, August 7.

"The KPK has escalated this case to the investigation stage and named five individuals as suspects," said Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution, Asep Guntur Rahayu, during a press conference at the KPK's Merah Putih building in Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, early Saturday, August 9.

Asep stated that this fraudulent practice allegedly began in December 2024. At that time, the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) met with five consultants to discuss the basic design of the East Kolaka Regional General Hospital (RSUD Timur), which was using special allocation funds (DAK).

Following the meeting, the Ministry of Health divided the basic design work for 12 regional hospitals among the partners through direct appointment. The construction project for the East Kolaka Regency Hospital was carried out by Nugroho Budiharto, acting as a representative of PT Patroon Arsindo.

Then, Asep stated, in January 2025, a meeting took place between the East Kolaka Regency Government and the Ministry of Health to discuss the tender arrangements for the construction of a Class C hospital in East Kolaka. Ageng, the PPK, allegedly gave money to Andi Lukan, the Ministry of Health's PIC.

Subsequently, Abdul Azis, along with the Head of the Goods and Services Procurement (PBJ) Division, Gusti Putu Artana, and the Head of the Health Office, Nasri, traveled to Jakarta. They allegedly manipulated PT PCP to win the tender for the construction of the Class C East Kolaka Regency Hospital, which had been announced on the East Kolaka LPSE website.

A month later, Ageng signed a IDR 126.3 billion contract with PT PCP for the construction of the East Kolaka Regency Regional Hospital. He also consulted with Andi Lukman for IDR 30 million in Bogor.

After the process was completed, PT PCP, through Deddy Karnady, withdrew approximately IDR 2.09 billion. "The money was then handed over to AGD (Ageng Darmanto) in the amount of IDR 500 million at the construction site of the East Kolaka Regency Regional General Hospital," Asep stated.

Furthermore, Ageng requested an 8 percent commitment fee from PT PCP through Deddy Karnady.

This commitment fee, Asep continued, was realized in August 2025. Deddy allegedly drew a check for IDR 1.6 billion, which was then handed over to Ageng.

Ageng then handed it over to Yasin, a staff member of Abdul Azis.

"The handover and management of the money was known to ABZ (Abdul Azis), who used it to purchase necessities for ABZ," he said.

Furthermore, Deddy also withdrew IDR 200 million in cash, which was then handed over to Ageng Darmanto. PT PCP, Asep added, also drew a check for IDR 3.3 billion.

"The KPK team then arrested AGD with evidence in the form of IDR 200 million in cash, which he received as compensation or part of the 8 percent commitment fee." "Or approximately IDR 9 billion, from the IDR 126.3 billion value of the East Kolaka Regency Regional General Hospital construction project," explained Asep, who is also the Director of Investigations at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

As a result of their actions, Deddy Karnady and Arif Rahman, as the bribe givers, are suspected of violating Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or b or Article 13 of the Corruption Eradication Law (UU Tipikor) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 point 1 of the Criminal Code.

Meanwhile, Abdul Azis, Ageng Dermanto, and Andi Lukman, as the bribe recipients, are suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or b or Article 11 and Article 12B of the Law on the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) point 1 of the Criminal Code.

"The KPK will then detain them for the first 20 days, from August 8 to 27, 2025, at the KPK Branch Detention Center, Gedung Merah Putih," concluded Asep.