Langkat Regent Silent After Bribery Suspicions

Langkat Regent Syah Afandin, also known as Ondim, remained tight-lipped after being declared a suspect in a bribery case by Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Appearing briefly before the media at the KPK headquarters in Jakarta, Afandin offered only short "Thank yous" when questioned about the allegations. He quickly retreated into a KPK detention vehicle, refusing to provide further details on the bribery charges that have ensnared him.

The investigation into Afandin began with a sting operation conducted by the KPK on July 2, 2026, across three locations in North Sumatra: Langkat, Binjai, and Medan. During this operation, Afandin, a civil servant in Langkat Regency, along with five private individuals, were apprehended. The KPK officially named Afandin and his former campaign team member, Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu’arif, as suspects on July 3, 2026.

Authorities allege that Afandin accepted Rp800 million in bribes. This payment was part of a larger agreed-upon sum of Rp1.117 billion. The funds were reportedly given by Yaqub in exchange for securing 80 project packages within the Langkat Regency Education Office and five projects within the Housing and Settlement Area Office (Perkim) for the 2025 budget year. The KPK is continuing its investigation into this matter.