Indonesian Anti-Corruption Agency Arrests BNPB Chief’s Brother in Disaster Fund Scandal
Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission, known as the KPK, has arrested five individuals, including Bima Setiawan, who served as a technical adviser and is the brother of former National Disaster Management Agency chief Letnan Jenderal TNI Suharyanto, over the alleged embezzlement of disaster response funds. Investigators revealed that Bima used Rp 30,98 miliar from the agency’s ready-to-use disaster budget to purchase corporate shares.
How Bima Setiawan Diverted Disaster Funds into Corporate Stocks
Plt Director of Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein explained during a press conference at the KPK Red and White Building in Kuningan, South Jakarta, that Bima funneled money through vendor direct procurements for personal gain. The funds flowed into a company affiliated with Bima and were subsequently used by PT AVE to purchase shares in PT Medela Potentia. Investigators found that Bima bought 150 juta lembar shares on October 13, 2026, at a price of 206 rupiahs per share, bringing PT AVE’s total holding to 150,4 juta lembar—representing a 1.07 percent stake valued at Rp 30,98 miliar.
The October 2026 Raids and Seizures Across Disaster Management Offices
The anti-corruption sweep began on October 13, 2026, when the KPK carried out an operation capturing 15 people in and around the disaster management agency. Following the arrests, investigators searched the office of the agency head alongside several other rooms during raids conducted from October 14 to 15, 2026. The agency seized physical evidence valued at Rp5,47 miliar. The seized assets included 7.500 US dollars, 9.000 Singapore dollars, Rp3,35 miliar in cash, 56 gold bars weighing a total of 133 grams worth Rp315,8 juta, tabungan emas seberat 192 gram senilai Rp452 juta, and Rp1,10 miliar in crypto assets.
Procurement Rigging in Forest Fire and Emergency Equipment Contracts
Investigators uncovered that the corrupted procurement packages involved essential emergency supplies, including walkie-talkie communication devices intended for fighting forest and land fires. These contracts formed part of collaborative work plans meant to expedite procurement when emergency disaster statuses were declared. Alongside Bima Setiawan, the KPK named four other suspects on October 14, 2026: commitment-making official and Subdirectorate Head of Aid and Emergency Fund Management Gabriel Purwaka Sigit, technical adviser Richard Erlangga, PT Trans Lintas Selaras Director Gery Prasetiawan, and private sector figure Syifa Nrika Ghifarin.
Strict Legal Criteria Governing Disaster Relief Allocations
The ready-to-use disaster funds are government reserves restricted strictly for emergencies. President Prabowo Subianto replaced Suharyanto with Lieutenant General Kristomei Sianturi on October 15, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Disaster Fund Investigation
What specific charges do the suspects face under Indonesian law?
Bima Setiawan faces charges under Article 12 letter i of the Law on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption. Indonesian anti-corruption statutes permit the death penalty for repeat offenders or those who steal disaster management funds.
Which specific disaster responses were compromised by the alleged corruption?
Investigators confirmed that the suspect procurement touched funds designated for managing forest and land fires in Kalimantan and Papua, alongside equipment contracts for emergency communications like handheld radio devices.
Who replaced the former disaster agency chief following the raids?
President Prabowo Subianto replaced former National Disaster Management Agency chief Lieutenant General Suharyanto with Lieutenant General Kristomei Sianturi on October 15, 2026.
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