Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Pati Regent Sudewo (SDW) as a suspect in an alleged extortion case involving prospective village officials. The decision followed Sudewo’s arrest in a KPK sting operation conducted on Monday (Jan. 19, 2026).

After being formally named a suspect, Sudewo was escorted from the KPK’s Red and White Building to the detention facility while wearing the commission’s distinctive orange detainee vest. He claimed that he had been made a scapegoat in the case.

“I consider myself a victim. I truly had no knowledge of this at all,” Sudewo said at the KPK headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday (Jan. 20, 2026).

Alongside Sudewo, the KPK also named three village heads as suspects: Abdul Suyono (YON), head of Karangrowo Village; Sumarjiono (JION), head of Arumanis Village; and Karjan (JAN), head of Sukorukun Village.

Sudewo stated that the three village heads had visited him at the regency office in early December to seek guidance regarding the recruitment of village officials. However, he did not elaborate on the substance of the meeting.

In total, eight individuals were arrested during the operation. Following further questioning at the KPK headquarters, four of them were formally designated as suspects, including Sudewo.

Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution at the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, said the suspects were named after investigators found sufficient evidence. He confirmed that SDW was charged in his capacity as Pati Regent for the 2025–2030 term.

All suspects were immediately placed in detention at the KPK’s Red and White Building detention facility. The detention period is set for 20 days, from January 20 through February 8, 2026.