Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted two sting operations on January 19, 2026, arresting Madiun Mayor Maidi and Pati Regent Sudewo over alleged corruption in projects and CSR funds. The arrests shocked the public and prompted a warning from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Examinations of the suspects are ongoing in Jakarta and Kudus.
On Monday, January 19, 2026, Indonesia's KPK launched its first sting operation in Madiun City, East Java. Mayor Maidi was arrested along with 14 others, totaling 15 individuals secured. Nine of them were flown to Jakarta that night, accompanied by hundreds of millions of rupiah in cash. The arrests relate to alleged corruption involving project fees and corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds in Madiun.
On the same day, KPK conducted a second operation in Pati Regency, Central Java. Regent Sudewo was apprehended in a separate raid and immediately examined for 24 hours at Kudus Police Resort. He emerged from the interrogation room around 00:14 WIB, wearing a mask and appearing downcast. KPK has not detailed the legal framework yet, but spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that the investigation has advanced to the prosecution stage, with suspect statuses determined within 1x24 hours. On Tuesday, January 20, the nine from Madiun underwent intensive questioning.
Sudewo has a history of controversies, having nearly been impeached by Pati's DPRD due to political conflicts and alleged governance issues. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a warning, calling the two arrests a lesson for democracy, as both leaders were directly elected by the public. The incidents have reignited debates on direct versus indirect regional elections, though corruption is seen as possible in both systems.
