Chronology of KPK's OTT at PUPR North Sumatra

The Corruption Eradication Commission conducted a hand-catching operation or KPK OTT on Thursday (26/6/2025) evening in the Mandailing Natal Regency, North Sumatra. From this operation, five individuals have been designated as suspects in the alleged corruption case related to the procurement of road infrastructure projects, one of whom is Topan Obaja Putra Ginting (TOP), the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office of North Sumatra. Topan is reported to be a trusted person of the Governor of North Sumatra, Bobby Nasution.

Although this case is still in the early stages of disclosure, the KPK suspects the possibility of involvement of other parties. Currently, the KPK is focusing on conducting investigations with the principle of follow the money (following the flow of money). The KPK is also opening up the opportunity to summon Bobby Nasution if any suspicion of the flow of money is found.

This was conveyed by the Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, during a press conference at the KPK Red and White Building in Jakarta, Saturday (28/6/2025). Asep explained that on Thursday night, there were two activities involving the handover of suspected corruption crimes taking place in the North Sumatra region.

This sting operation serves as an entry point, and the KPK will continue to investigate and delve into related projects or the procurement of other goods and services.

First, regarding the road construction project within the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (PUPR). Second, related to the preservation or maintenance of roads in the National Road Implementation Work Unit (Satker PJN) Region I of North Sumatra.

The details are as follows: for the construction project, namely the Sipiongot road construction project at the Labusel border, with a project value of Rp 96 billion, and the Hutaimbaru-Sipiongot road construction project, with a project value of Rp 61.8 billion.

Furthermore, there are four road preservation or maintenance projects, namely the preservation of the Sp Kota Pinang-Gunung Tua-SP Pal XI Road in 2023 with a project value of IDR 56.5 billion and the preservation of the Sp Kota Pinang-Gunung Tua-Sp PAL XI Road in 2024 with a project value of IDR 17.5 billion. Additionally, there is the rehabilitation of the Sp Kota Pinang-Gunung Tua-Sp Pal XI Road, landslide handling in 2025, and the preservation of the Sp Kota Pinang-Gunung Tua-Sp PAL XI Road in 2025.

"The total value of the project is at least Rp 231.8 billion. The KPK will still trace and investigate other projects," said Asep.

From the operation, the KPK arrested six individuals suspected of being involved in corruption related to road infrastructure. After examination, the KPK designated five individuals as suspects.

They are Topan Obaja Putra Ginting (TOP), the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office of North Sumatra; Rasuli Efendi Siregar (RES), the Head of the Gunung Tua UPTD, North Sumatra Provincial Public Works Office, who also serves as the Commitment Making Officer (PPK); Heliyanto (HEL), the PPK of the PJN Working Unit for Region I of North Sumatra; M Akhirun Efendi Siregar (KIR), the President Director of PT DNG; and M Rayhan Dulasmi Pilang (RAY), the Director of PT RN.

"This sting operation serves as an entry point, and the KPK will continue to investigate and delve into related projects or the procurement of other goods and services," explained Asep.

According to Asep, the alleged corruption in the road construction project at the PUPR of North Sumatra Province began on April 22, 2025 when KIR, the President Director of PT DNG together with Topan as the Head of the PUPR Service of North Sumatra Province, RES as the Head of the Gunung Tua UPTD of the PUPR Service of North Sumatra Province concurrently serving as the Commitment Making Officer (PPK), and other Gunung Tua UPTD staff, conducted an offroad survey in the Sipiongot Village area to review the location of the road construction project.

Subsequently, Topan instructed RES to appoint KIR as a partner/provider, bypassing the mechanisms and regulations in the procurement process for the Sipiongot-Labusel border road construction project and the Hutaimbaru-Sipiongot road construction project. The total value of both projects amounts to Rp 157.8 billion.

RES contacted KIR, primarily informing that a road construction project will be aired in June 2025 and requested KIR to follow up and submit a proposal. Between June 23 and 26, 2025, KIR instructed its staff to coordinate with RES and UPTD staff to prepare technical matters related to the e-catalog process.

Well, what is being asked is whether the KPK will investigate the deposits, the deposits to BN (Bobby Nasution) or to his superiors. Of course, we are currently making efforts to follow the money, follow where the money is going.

KIR, together with RES and the UPTD staff, organized the e-catalog process so that PT DGN could win the Sipiongot Batas Labusel road construction project. Meanwhile, for other projects, it was suggested that the display of additional packages be given a one-week interval to avoid being too conspicuous.

In the regulation of the e-catalog process at the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office of North Sumatra Provincial Government, there is a provision of funds from KIR and RAY to RES, which is carried out through bank transfers. Additionally, it is also suspected that there are other receipts by Topan from KIR and RAY through intermediaries.

Not only that, HEL as the PPK of the PJN Working Unit for Region I of North Sumatra Province is also reported to have awarded four work projects to PT DNG and PT RN in North Sumatra Province from 2023 to the present. The director of PT RN, namely RAY, is the child of KIR.

Three road preservation or maintenance projects are as follows: the preservation of the Sp Kota Pinang-Gunung Tua-Sp Pal XI Road in 2023 with a project value of IDR 56.5 billion, the preservation of the Sp Kota Pinang-Gunung Tua-Sp PAL XI Road in 2024 with a project value of IDR 17.5 billion. Additionally, the rehabilitation of the Sp Kota Pinang-Gunung Tua-Sp Pal XI Road and landslide handling in 2025 will be carried out by PT DNG. Meanwhile, the preservation of the Sp Kota Pinang-Gunung Tua-Sp PAL XI Road in 2025 will be conducted by PT RN.

HEL is reported to have received a sum of Rp 120 million during the period from March 2024 to June 2025. The receipt of this money was due to HEL having arranged the e-catalog process for work at the Regional Office I of the BPPJN in North Sumatra Province, resulting in PT DNG and PT RN being selected as the contractors for the project.

The KPK has charged KIR and RAY with allegedly violating Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or b or Article 13 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) number 1 of the Criminal Code.

Meanwhile, Topan, RES, and HEL are alleged to have violated Article 12 letter a or b, Article 11, or 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) number 1 of the Criminal Code.

According to Asep, Topan has been a close associate of Bobby for a long time, even long before Bobby took office as the Governor of North Sumatra. This is because before Topan served as the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office of North Sumatra, he was known to have been the Acting Regional Secretary of Medan City when Bobby was the Mayor of Medan.

However, when asked further whether the KPK would investigate the possibility of payments to Bobby Nasution or other parties above him, Asep emphasized that his team is tracing the flow of funds in this case.

"Well, what is being asked is whether the KPK will investigate the deposits, the deposits to BN (Bobby Nasution) or to his superiors. Of course, we are currently making efforts to follow the money, to follow where the money is going," said Asep.

Asep assured that the KPK will not be selective in investigating corruption cases in this matter. His side will examine parties suspected of being involved in the case. "If we indeed move towards someone, for example, to another head of department or to the governor, we will request a statement," said Asep.

Separately, a researcher from the Center for Anti-Corruption Studies (Saksi) at Mulawarman University, Herdiansyah Hamzah, stated on Sunday (29/6/2025) that the KPK must trace the flow of the bribe money. "One of the modes of corruption so far is due to reciprocal relationships. It is possible, for example, that this closeness builds relationships, including in matters related to the corrupt results produced by this head of department," said Herdiansyah.

Herdiansyah also highlighted the appointments of heads of departments by regional leaders based solely on personal connections, rather than through a meritocratic system. This reciprocal relationship process actually opens up opportunities for the occurrence of corrupt practices.

"If the appointment of Topan as the head of the department is more based on the close relationship between the two, rather than solely on his competence, this poses a danger. Therefore, the selection of department heads based solely on friendship relations is what actually creates opportunities for corruption," said Herdiansyah.