Indonesia's KPK Investigates Alleged Kickbacks in Railway Projects, Questions BTP Jakarta Head

Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is intensifying its probe into alleged kickbacks and rigged bidding processes within the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) of the Ministry of Transportation.

The KPK recently questioned Ferdian Suryo Adhi Pramono, the Head of the Jakarta Railway Engineering Center (BTP Kelas I Jakarta), as a witness. Investigators are seeking to understand his knowledge of alleged kickbacks paid by private entities to officials within DJKA and the Ministry of Transportation. This alleged practice is believed to be a modus operandi for securing lucrative railway projects.

This investigation traces back to a sting operation conducted in April 2023 at the Central Java Railway Engineering Center (now Semarang). Initially, 10 individuals were named suspects. As of January 20, 2026, the number of suspects has grown significantly to 21, including a member of the House of Representatives' Commission V. Two companies have also been designated as corporate suspects.

The projects under scrutiny include the Solo Balapan-Kadipiro-Kalioso double-track railway, the Makassar railway line, four railway construction projects and two supervision projects in Lampegan, Cianjur, and the repair of level crossings across Java and Sumatra. The KPK suspects a systematic manipulation of project winners through engineered procurement processes, from the administrative stages to the final tender awards.

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In general, the focus is related to the alleged giving of project fees to parties in the Ministry of Transportation.