Former Pati Regent Sudewo denied extortion charges against prospective village officials during his first hearing at the Semarang Corruption Court on Monday (15/6/2026). Prosecutors from the KPK accused Sudewo and three village heads of illegally collecting Rp2.49 billion.
During the hearing at the Semarang Corruption Court, KPK prosecutors stated that Sudewo ordered the Head of the Community and Village Empowerment Office Tri Hariyama not to fill vacant village official positions in 2025 despite the budget being prepared.
Sudewo claimed that the authority to fill village positions fully rests with village heads under Pati Regent Regulation Number 35 of 2023 and asserted that his name was used without his knowledge.
Hundreds of supporters from the Pati Bangkit Action group staged a protest outside the court building and demanded Sudewo's release along with clearing his good name.
