8.5-year sentence read today

The panel of judges at the Semarang Corruption Court (Tipikor - Tindak Pidana Korupsi) sentenced the inactive Regent of Pati, Sudewo, on Wednesday (21/10/2026). "Sentencing the defendant ... to imprisonment for 8 years and 6 months and a fine of Rp300 million," said the judge during the verdict hearing, as quoted by KompasTV. The judge also ordered Sudewo to pay restitution amounting to Rp3,511,500,000.

The ruling nearly aligned with the demands of the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) public prosecutor, who sought 8 years and 6 months imprisonment, a fine of Rp300 million, restitution of Rp3.6 billion, plus the revocation of the right to be elected to public office for 5 years, according to reports by viv.co.id and surabayainside.com.

Two clusters of corruption cases

Sudewo was indicted in two case clusters. First, alleged extortion and the buying and selling of positions in filling village apparatus posts in Pati Regency, involving Rp2.4 billion in evidence that also implicated three village heads. Second, alleged bribes of Rp1.3 billion and gratifications of Rp2.3 billion related to projects at the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA - Direktorat Jenderal Perkeretaapian) of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub - Kementerian Perhubungan) when he served as a member of Commission V of the House of Representatives (DPR - Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat).

Through his legal counsel, Yupen Hadi, Sudewo maintained that he was not proven guilty and requested the panel of judges to acquit him of all charges. He claimed the people of Pati were still waiting for him to continue development.

Tight security, supporters hold ruwatan ceremony

The sentencing hearing was secured by 1,610 joint personnel from the Semarang City Police (Polrestabes Semarang) and the Central Java Regional Police (Polda Jawa Tengah) to anticipate the mobilization of crowds of supporters. The Semarang District Court (PN Semarang - Pengadilan Negeri Semarang) moved two other trials to the courthouse on Jalan Siliwangi and restricted the number of courtroom visitors, but provided a live broadcast via the court's official YouTube channel, said Semarang District Court spokesperson Hadi Sunoto. Meanwhile, in Pati Regency, the community group Pati Ora Sepele held a cultural ruwatan (traditional cleansing ritual) to support law enforcement.