Pati Residents Planning to Hold Another Protest for Regent Sudewo's Impeachment

August 19, 2025 | 08:36 am

Residents of Pati regency, Central Java, Indonesia, will once again hold a protest to demand the impeachment of Regent Sudewo on Monday, August 25, 2025. The planned large-scale demonstration is a continuation of the first protest on August 13, 2025, which demanded the impeachment of Regent Sudewo for raising the Land and Building Tax (PBB-P2) rates by up to 250 percent.

"All residents of Pati, let's unite again. Don't forget, tomorrow, on August 25, let's unite again," said the coordinator of the United Eastern Pati People's Alliance, Ahmad Husein, in a live broadcast on his personal TikTok account @cybeer94, quoted on Monday, August 18, 2025.

Husein said the upcoming demonstration also aims to oversee the impeachment process of Regent Sudewo in the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) of Pati. They will urge the Special Committee on DPRD's Inquiry Rights regarding the impeachment of Regent Sudewo to promptly process the impeachment.

In the upcoming protest, Husein once again reminded the public to maintain order. He also called on the public to ensure that no public facilities are damaged during the demonstration.

The people of Pati staged a large-scale protest on August 13 because they opposed Regent Sudewo's decision to raise the PBB-P2 rates by up to 250 percent. Initially, Sudewo insisted that he would not change his decision even though tens of thousands of residents of Pati protested against the increase in PBB rates.

However, the Gerindra Party politician softened his stance as the protest day approached. He then apologized to the people of Pati for his decision and statements. Sudewo also apologized to the demonstrators who protested in front of the Pati Regency office on August 13, 2025.

During the demonstration, the Pati DPRD agreed to form a Special Committee for the Impeachment of Regent Sudewo. The DPRD's consideration was that Sudewo was allegedly violating his oath and duties as regent, including raising the PBB-P2 rates by up to 250 percent. Despite the tax increase being revoked, the DPRD believed that Sudewo had caused a disturbance among the people of Pati.

When asked by the media on the same day, Sudewo respected the DPRD's decision. However, he emphasized that he would not resign from his position as regent.

In addition to the second demonstration, the United People of Pati Alliance also plans to protest at the Corruption Eradication Commission building in South Jakarta. They will urge the KPK to designate Sudewo as a suspect in a corruption case related to the construction of a railway line at the Ministry of Transportation's Directorate General of Railways budget for 2020-2021.

The reason for this is that Sudewo's name emerged during the trial of the alleged corruption case at the Semarang Corruption Court in Central Java on November 9, 2023. During the trial, it was revealed that the KPK had seized around Rp 3 billion from the former member of the Regional House of Representatives. The KPK public prosecutor also presented evidence in the form of photos of cash in rupiah and foreign currency seized at Sudewo's house.

Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, said that the return of state losses does not absolve the criminal act. "The return of state financial losses does not eliminate the criminal act," said Asep at the Red and White Building of the KPK, Jakarta, on Thursday, August 14, 2025.

Asep referred to Article 4 of the Corruption Eradication Law. This article stipulates that the return of state financial losses does not acquit the perpetrator of the criminal act as referred to in Articles 2 and 3. Asep also signaled that the KPK will summon Sudewo.

Sudewo has denied this. He denied receiving Rp 720 million from an employee of PT Istana Putra Agung, as well as Rp 500 million from Bernard Hasibuan through his staff named Nur Widayat.

M. Raihan Muzzaki contributed to the writing of this article.

Editor's Choice: Prabowo's Response to the Protest Against Pati Regent Sudewo

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Commemorating Independence Day, KPK Opens Visits for Prisoners in Detention Centers

2 hari lalu

Prabowo's Speech a Positive Signal for Law Enforcement in Eradicating the Mafia, Says Former KPK Investigator

2 hari lalu

KPK Investigates Alleged Corruption Linked to Lombok Mining Activities

2 hari lalu

KPK Raids Home of Former Minister over Alleged 2024 Hajj Quota Corruption

3 hari lalu

ICW Files Second Report on Alleged Corruption in Police's Tear Gas Procurement to KPK

3 hari lalu

KPK Urges Travel Agencies Cooperate in Hajj Quota Corruption Probe

4 hari lalu

KPK Searches Religious Affairs Ministry Office Over Hajj Quota Corruption

4 hari lalu

Prabowo's Response to the Protest Against Pati Regent Sudewo

5 hari lalu

Presidential Palace Denies Casualties in Pati Protest

5 hari lalu

Pati Protest: Police Fire Tear Gas at Mosque and Ambulance

5 hari lalu