A record of three Sidoarjo regents caught in corruption

Three regents elected from the direct election process in Sidoarjo have been involved in corruption cases.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Sidoarjo Regent Ahmad Muhdlor Ali attended the Nderek Kyai Prabowo-Gibran Declaration at the Bumi Shalawat Progressive Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Thursday (1/2/2023).

Determination of a suspect by the Commission Eradication of Corruption (KPK) to Regent of Sidoarjo Ahmad Muhdlor Ali doesn't seem like a stranger anymore. History records that three regional heads from this shrimp-producing region are not free from corruption.

The determination of suspect status for Sidoarjo Regent Ahmad Muhdlor Ali, who is suspected of being involved in the corruption case of cutting ASN incentives for the Regional Revenue Management Agency (BPPD) of Sidoarjo Regency worth IDR 2.7 billion, adds to a long line history of regional heads who were caught in corruption cases.

Specifically in Sidoarjo, Muhdlor is the third elected regent from direct regional head election since 2005 who is caught in a corruption case.

Gus Mudhlor, as the young regent who was elected in the 2020 simultaneous regional elections is usually called, finally had to experience the KPK's signature orange vest after the anti-corruption agency named him a suspect on April 16 2024.

Widespread issues related to allegations that the regent was involved in corruption have actually emerged since the 2024 Presidential Election campaign.

At that time, the issue that arose was the naming of Muhdlor as a suspect in a corruption case. However, this issue slightly subsided, especially with the change in political stance of Muhdlor, who is also a member of the PKB Sidoarjo. He initially supported the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar pair, but suddenly redirected his support to the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka pair. Speculation then developed that this change in political stance was to "prevent" the naming of the bupati as a suspect.

In terms of political track record, Muhdlor is a blue-blooded politician and a young political figure in Sidoarjo and East Java in general. Gus Mudhlor is the sixth son of the great NU figure, KH Agoes Ali Masyhuri or Gus Ali, the caretaker of Bumi Solawat Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo.

Gus Muhdlor is recorded as one of the young regional heads in East Java. When elected in the 2020 local elections, he was only 29 years old. In the election, Muhdlor was paired with the Chairman of PKB DPC Sidoarjo, Subandi, who was officially inaugurated as the regent and deputy regent on January 22, 2021.

The couple Muhdlor and Subandi were declared as the winners of the regional elections after obtaining 387,766 votes or 39.01 percent of the total valid votes in the 2020 Sidoarjo district elections.

The appointment of Sidoarjo Regent Ahmad Muhdlor Ali by the KPK in this corruption case not only adds to the long list of directly elected regional heads involved in corrupt practices but also for the people of Sidoarjo, in particular, the designation of the regent as a suspect further contributes to the record of regents in this region who are often embroiled in corruption problems.

Also read: Unfortunate fate of Sidoarjo, three regents caught in corruption

Sidoarjo Regent and corruption

The designation of Gus Mudhlor as a suspect in a corruption case further reinforces the existing assessment that regional heads in the area known for shrimp production are synonymous with corruption cases. Prior to Mudhlor, two other Sidoarjo regents who were also directly elected stumbled upon the same issue.

The first case involved the two-term Regent of Sidoarjo, namely Win Hendrarso. Win Hendrarso led Sidoarjo in the periods of 2000-2005 and 2005-2010. In his second term, he was elected as the first Regent of Sidoarjo through a direct election.

At that time, Win was paired with vice regent candidate Saiful Ilah who is also the Chairman of the PKB Sidoarjo branch. The pair supported by PKB won the Sidoarjo regional election in 2005 by garnering 459,206 votes or approximately 67.86 percent of valid votes.

KOMPAS/RUNIK SRI ASTUTI

The Regent of Sidoarjo for the 2010-2015 and 2016-2021 periods, Saiful Ilah, is currently undergoing a corruption trial at the Surabaya Corruption Court, Thursday (10/8/2023).

It was during his second period that Win came under public scrutiny after his name was implicated in a corruption case involving a village fund of Rp 2.4 billion. Win was declared a suspect by the prosecutor's office on January 14, 2011, shortly after he was removed from his position as regent.

In this case, Win was initially acquitted during the appeal trial after being sentenced to one year. However, in the Supreme Court's cassation ruling, Win was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison in 2013.

In February 2017, Win was released on parole after serving a 3-year 4-month sentence. The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights evaluated that Win had behaved well and therefore was granted parole before serving out his full sentence.

Also read: Excusing illness, Sidoarjo Regent cancels investigation by KPK as suspect

Two corruption cases of Sidoarjo Regent Saiful Ilah

After Win Hendrarso's leadership in the 2010 Sidoarjo Regional Elections, former Vice Regent Saiful Ilah ran alongside other members of PKB, namely MG Hadi Sutjipto. This pair, supported by the PKB and PKS coalition, succeeded in winning the Sidoarjo Regional Elections by gaining 450,586 votes or 60.46 percent of the total valid votes.

Saiful Ilah became the second person, after Win Hendrarso, to be re-elected in the local election for a second term. However, in the 2015 election, Saiful no longer ran alongside MG Hadi Sutjipto. The two parted ways and both ran as candidates for district head.

Saiful is paired with Nur Achmad Syaifudin, the Vice Chairman of the Sidoarjo PKB DPC. In the 2015 Sidoarjo regional election, the Saiful Ilah-Nur Achmad Syaifudin pair won by accumulating 424,611 votes or the equivalent of 58.97% of the valid votes.

Unfortunately, during his second term, Saiful was confronted with a corruption case. As a result, Saiful was unable to complete his second term of leadership in Sidoarjo and Nur Achmad Syaifudin replaced him as the acting regent. Saiful had to face corruption charges directed at him, and he was even twice charged with the case.

The first case is corruption of receiving bribes worth Rp 600 million from the Public Works and Housing Department project in Sidoarjo Regency.

In this first case, Saiful was named a suspect by the KPK on January 7, 2020, towards the end of his second term leading Sidoarjo. Saiful was sentenced to four years in prison in this case, but the court later reduced it to three years on October 5, 2020.

KOMPAS/RUNIK SRI ASTUTI

KPK investigators examined the official residence of Sidoarjo Regent Ahmad Muhdlor Ali on Wednesday (31/1/2024). The investigation is related to a case of alleged tax incentive and regional levy cuts at the Sidoarjo Regional Tax Service Agency, which is currently being investigated by the KPK.

After serving his sentence, Saiful was released in January 2022. However, not long after breathing the fresh air of freedom, he was again caught up in another corruption case.

In this second case, Saiful is accused of receiving bribery in the form of cash, gold, watches, and other luxurious items with a value of up to 15 billion rupiahs.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reappointed Saiful Ilah as a suspect on March 7, 2023. In the trial, he was sentenced to 5.3 years in prison, and later the court imposed a lighter sentence, which was 5 years in prison on December 11, 2023.

Meaning, looking at the passing time, Saiful, who is currently still serving his sentence in his second case, the community in Sidoarjo is once again confronted with the bitter reality that their local leader is embroiled in corruption cases.

Sidoarjo also recorded a record of three regents who have led this region experiencing corruption problems. (Compass R&D)

Also read: Suspect Status, Ahmad Muhdlor Ali Still Leads Sidoarjo