Jakarta. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday detained former People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Secretary-General Ma'ruf Cahyono, a year after naming him a suspect in an alleged procurement corruption case involving more than Rp 30 billion (about $1.7 million) in suspected bribes and gratuities.

KPK Investigation Director Achmad Taufik Husein said investigators allege that Ma'ruf solicited kickbacks from companies awarded procurement contracts by the MPR Secretariat while serving as secretary-general from 2019 to 2021.

According to investigators, prospective contractors were required to pay fees equivalent to about 10% of each project's value before securing contracts.

“For procurement projects at the MPR Secretariat, prospective contractors were first asked to pay a fee of around 10% of the contract value,” Taufik told a press conference.

Investigators allege that Ma'ruf personally received about Rp 7 billion in kickbacks, either directly or through an intermediary identified as Zakaria.

The KPK also alleges that contractors transferred illicit payments through a brokerage trading account with a balance of Rp 14.4 billion and a bank account belonging to an office-supplies company containing Rp 16.4 billion.

“From those accounts, Ma'ruf is suspected of receiving gratuities totaling approximately Rp 30 billion,” Taufik said.

As part of the investigation, the KPK has seized a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, a Brompton bicycle, a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold smartphone, a guitar valued at Rp 10 million, and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Investigators also allege that some of the funds were used to finance his child's wedding in November 2020 and a Rp 1.9 billion renovation of his private residence in Depok.

The KPK opened its investigation in June 2025 and named Ma'ruf a suspect the following month. Officials did not explain why his detention took place nearly a year later.

Ma'ruf was escorted from the interrogation room in handcuffs, wearing the KPK's orange detention vest.

“I have answered many questions just now and explained everything so that this matter can be clarified,” he told reporters, declining further comment.

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