SEMARANG; The Semarang Corruption Court sentenced suspended Pati regent Sudewo to eight-and-a-half years in prison on Wednesday after finding him guilty of accepting Rp 3.8 billion (US$210,480) in bribes while serving as a member of the House of Representatives.
Sudewo must also pay a fine of Rp 300 million and compensation of Rp 3.51 billion after being found guilty of accepting bribes from businesses linked to railway construction projects overseen by the Transportation Ministry’s Railway Directorate General in Central Java and East Java.
He was also found guilty of extorting Rp 2.4 billion from officials appointed to various positions in 401 village administrations across 21 districts in Pati during his tenure as regent.
The verdict was in line with the sentence sought by prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). However, the panel of judges did not impose the additional punishment of revoking Sudewo’s political rights for five years after he completed his prison term, as demanded by the prosecution.
“If the convict cannot pay the fine, then prosecutors can seize his property and auction it,” presiding judge Edwin Pudyono said while reading the verdict.
“If it is not enough, the fine is replaced by an additional 100 days in jail.”
As for the compensation, Sudewo has been given one month to pay after the verdict. If he cannot pay the amount, he will face an additional two years in prison.
Commenting on the verdict, Sudewo said he was still considering his options.
“I will coordinate with my lawyers before deciding on the next legal step,” he said.
Defendants and prosecutors usually have one week to decide whether to accept a verdict or file an appeal.
Sudewo also objected to the considerations used by the panel of judges, arguing that witness testimonies did not prove his involvement in the cases. He claimed that the case against him was unusual.
“There was something strange, there was a legal drama,” he said. “There was political intervention in the legal process.”
Regarding suspected graft involving Rp 2.19 billion in railway construction, Sudewo claimed the figure came from a table related to Nur Widayat and contractor experts, rather than to him.
He also said the project value had not been disclosed when the money was handed over.
“The figure was suddenly mentioned to me,” he said. “It was not clear what the project was, when the money was given and in what form.”
Regarding the prosecution’s charges of extorting village officials in Pati regency, Sudewo denied ordering anyone to collect money. He said appointments of village officials fell under the authority of each village administration.
He argued that witness testimonies during the trial were merely assumptions about the existence of an order from the regent.
“There was no witness who said they received an order from me to collect money,” he said.
Sudewo allegedly demanded Rp 125 million to Rp 150 million from each candidate. However, his subordinates, who coordinated the extortion, demanded Rp 165 million to Rp 225 million, pocketing the difference.
After the trial, Sudewo met hundreds of his supporters on Jl. Suratmo near the Semarang Corruption Court building. He urged them to remain calm and return to Pati.
He also promised to pursue various legal avenues, from an appeal to cassation.
Sudewo was then escorted to a tactical vehicle belonging to Central Java’s Mobile Brigade to leave the court premises.
Sudewo has long been a controversial figure, having become the target of mass demonstrations by thousands of Pati residents on Aug 13, 2025.
Residents staged mass rallies after Sudewo raised the regional land and building tax by more than 250 per cent compared with the previous year. There were also allegations that he had extorted candidates for village official positions.
Sudewo was widely regarded as arrogant after challenging Pati residents to stage a rally against him.
The tax hike and other alleged violations prompted public demands for the Pati Legislative Council to impeach Sudewo.
However, legislators decided against impeachment on Oct 31, 2025, and instead presented him with recommendations for improvement.
Before running for public office as Pati regent for the 2025–2030 term, Sudewo had served two terms as a member of the House of Representatives.
He represented the Democratic Party during the 2009–2014 term, serving Central Java VII electoral district, which comprises the regencies of Banjarnegara, Kebumen and Purbalingga.
For the 2019–2024 term, Sudewo switched to President Prabowo Subianto’s Gerindra Party, representing Central Java III electoral district, which comprises the regencies of Blora, Grobogan, Rembang and Pati.
During his second term, Sudewo served on Commission V, which oversees transportation, among other areas.
It was during this second term as a lawmaker that he allegedly accepted bribes and intervened in bidding processes for various railway infrastructure projects. - Jakarta Post/ANN
