Langkat Regent Detained by KPK for 20 Days Amid Bribery Allegations

Langkat Regent Syah Afandin, also known as Ondim, has been detained for 20 days by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as part of an investigation into alleged bribery related to projects in Langkat Regency, North Sumatra. The KPK also detained Yaqub Abdh Al Mu’arif, a private individual and part of Ondim's campaign team, who is also a suspect in the case.

The detentions, which began on July 3, 2026, and will last until July 22, 2026, are part of a larger sting operation that apprehended seven individuals in total. Afandin is being held at the KPK's detention center, while Yaqub is at the Medan City Police detention center. The KPK stated that the operation occurred on Thursday, July 2, 2026, with arrests made in Langkat Regency, Binjai City, and Medan City.

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The detention of the suspects will last for the first 20 days from July 3 to July 22, 2026.

According to the KPK, the case originated in 2025 when Yaqub secured project packages from the Langkat Education Agency and the Public Housing and Settlement Agency through direct procurement. He allegedly coordinated with officials, including Ilhamsyah, the acting head of the Education Agency, who was also detained. The projects included 80 packages worth 9.5 billion rupiah from the Education Agency and 5 packages worth 748 million rupiah from the Public Housing Agency.

Regent Afandin is accused of demanding fees for these projects, specifically 10 percent for Education Agency projects and 17 percent for Public Housing Agency projects. Yaqub reportedly agreed to pay a total of 990 million rupiah for the Education Agency projects and 126.8 million rupiah for the Public Housing Agency projects. By April 5, 2026, Yaqub had allegedly paid Afandin 800 million rupiah in installments, facilitated by Afandin's driver, Zulkifli, who was also arrested.

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Demanding a fee of 10 percent from projects at the Education Agency, and 17 percent from projects at the Public Housing Agency.