Riau Governor’s House Arrest Request Denied by KPK
Pekanbaru, Indonesia – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has rejected a request from the legal counsel of non-active Riau Governor Abdul Wahid to transfer his detention from the Sialang Bungkuk State Detention Center in Pekanbaru to house arrest. The decision was announced during a hearing at the Corruption Crime Court in Pekanbaru on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
KPK Cites Good Health and Procedural Concerns
According to KPK prosecutor Meyer Volmar Simanjuntak, the rejection is based on the fact that Abdul Wahid has shown no concerning medical history during the four months of the investigation. “During the investigation period of more than four months we never found any worrying medical history from Mr. Abdul Wahid. This means that, thank God, the defendants are in good health as they are now,” Simanjuntak stated. He further explained that any necessary medical treatment could be provided even as Wahid remains in detention.
Simanjuntak also noted that the handling of the case has been transferred to the presiding judge, and any decision regarding the transfer of detention now rests with the court. He emphasized that comparisons to other cases, such as that of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, are not relevant as precedents, as each case is considered individually.
Legal Counsel Sought House Arrest Based on Precedent
Abdul Wahid’s legal advisor, Kemal Shahab, had requested the transfer to house arrest, citing provisions in the Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code (Article 18 paragraph 5 and Article 108 paragraph 11). Shahab also pointed to the case of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, a former Minister of Religion, who was previously granted house arrest for health reasons. The defense team submitted medical records and a family guarantee as part of their application.
Court Response
The presiding judge, Delta Tamtama, declined to comment on the request at this time.
Background
Abdul Wahid is facing charges related to alleged extortion. The case is currently being heard at the Corruption Crime Court in Pekanbaru.