KPK Names Governor of Riau as Suspect

Viralterkini.id, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has officially named the Governor of Riau, Abdul Wahid as a suspect in alleged bribery for road and bridge projects at the PUPR PKPP Service of Riau Province.

This step was taken after the anti-corruption agency received strong evidence of the governor’s involvement.

Apart from Abdul Wahid, the KPK also named two other people as suspects. They are the Head of the PUPR PKPP Riau Service Muhammad Arief Setiawan and the Governor’s Expert Staff Dani M. Nursalam.

The three of them are suspected of being involved in the practice of illegal levies known as “thug quotas” from infrastructure projects worth hundreds of billions of rupiah. The Corruption Eradication Commission assesses that this practice is carried out systematically with a clear division of roles.

Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Committee Johanis Tanak said that the public’s initial information was the starting point for investigating this case.

“Initial information from the public is the entry point for the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) to investigate alleged corrupt practices within the Riau Provincial Government,” he said in a press conference at the KPK’s Red and White Building, Jakarta, Wednesday (5/11/2025).

From the results of the investigation, Abdul Wahid allegedly received IDR 4.05 billion from the total commitment fee of IDR 7 billion. The money is said to have come from a number of road improvement and bridge construction projects in several areas of Riau.

This levy method is said to be a “thug quota” to cover up corrupt practices. The Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) revealed that the term was used to disguise payments from contractors to local governments.

According to Johanis, the bribery scheme was discussed in a closed meeting in Pekanbaru in May 2025. The meeting was attended by the Secretary of the PUPR PKPP Service and six Heads of UPT regions I to VI.

From this meeting, it was agreed that there would be a deposit of 5 percent of the total project, the value of which would increase sharply. The project, which was originally valued at IDR 71.6 billion, increased to IDR 177.4 billion, with a commitment fee of around IDR 7 billion for the governor.

The request for fees was submitted directly by Muhammad Arief Setiawan to the contractors. “The fee is called a ‘preman quota’, a term used to disguise the demand for money from the project,” said Johanis.

The Corruption Eradication Commission recorded at least three handovers of money to Abdul Wahid. The first deposit was made in June 2025 worth IDR 1.6 billion, of which IDR 1 billion was received through the governor’s experts and IDR 600 million for the Head of the PUPR PKPP Service.

The next deposit takes place in August 2025 with a similar pattern. The total money Abdul Wahid received until the investigation was underway reached IDR 4.05 billion.

After undergoing intensive examination since Tuesday evening, Abdul Wahid was officially detained. He left the examination room at around 20.45 WIB wearing an orange vest typical of KPK prisoners.

Johanis emphasized that the determination of this suspect is not the end of the investigation. “This case does not stop here. The Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) will trace all parties who have enjoyed the flow of ‘thug quota’ funds,” he stressed.