North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution has expressed his readiness to testify before Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators over a corruption case that has led to the arrest of the Head of the province’s Public Works Agency, Topan Obaja Putra Ginting.

"This is a legal process, and of course, we are ready to cooperate," Bobby told reporters at his office on Monday, June 30, 2025.

He emphasized that as a public official, he is obliged to provide any information that could help investigators, especially in light of allegations involving illicit money flows.

"If there are indeed money trails, whether among subordinates, superiors, or anyone within the [North Sumatra provincial] administration, it is our duty to provide an explanation," he said.

Bobby also assured that the North Sumatra provincial administration would be cooperative should the KPK request additional data or documents.

"If there’s a need for us to supply data, we will provide it without hesitation," he said.

Bribery case

The KPK detained Topan Obaja Putra Ginting, aka TOP, along with four others after a sting operation that uncovered a bribery scheme involving road construction projects under the North Sumatra province’s Public Works Agency and the National Road Construction Operational Unit (Satker PJN).

The other four are Rasuli Efendi Siregar (RES), Head of the Gunung Tua Working Unit and project commitment officer at the Public Works Agenc; Heliyanto (HEL),procurement officer at PJN Region I; Akhirun Efendi Siregar (KIR), CEO of PT DNG; and M. Rayhan Dulasmi (RAY), Director of PT RN.

"KPK has detained the suspects for an initial period of 20 days starting June 28 to July 17, 2025," KPK Director of Investigation, Asep Guntur Rahayu, told a press conference on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

KIR and RAY are accused of offering bribes to government officials to secure project contracts.

Meanwhile, Topan is suspected of manipulating project tenders to ensure that certain parties were guaranteed working contracts. In return, each approved project was allegedly subject to a pre-arranged “fee” or “kickback,” which was then distributed to various individuals within the local administration.

“We suspect this practice has been running in a systematic manner and involves more than one official,” Asep said.

The recent arrest of Topan during a sting operation has sparked wider public scrutiny, particularly over potential links to North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution. Anti-corruption groups and university scholars have called on the KPK to trace the money trail thoroughly and review the governor’s wealth disclosure documents (LHKPN).

Observers argue that Topan’s powerful position within the provincial administration and his reported proximity to the political elite warrant a deeper investigation.

This arrest has uncovered the alleged corruption practices that have been shadowing the road infrastructure development project in North Sumatra with a total value of Rp231.8 billion (US$14.3 million).

Sanctions

Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo has responded to the arrests, saying that anyone involved in the corruption, including ministry staff, would face sanctions, including dishonorably discharge.

"Anyone proven to have committed violations will be removed without hesitation," Dody told a press conference on Saturday.

He cited President Prabowo Subianto’s directive on governance reform: “Fix yourself, clean yourself, because those who are not clean will be removed without exception.”

While emphasizing due process and the presumption of innocence, Dody said his ministry is committed to full cooperation with law enforcement.

“If anyone in the Ministry of Public Works is implicated, I will hand them over to the authorities,” he affirmed.