Antara, Jakarta – The protest by Pati Regency residents against Regent Sudewo's policy and demanding his resignation descended into chaos. Initially peaceful, the demonstration turned violent.
The crowd damaged the fence of the regent's office, shattered glass windows, and set a car on fire, Antara reported on Wednesday afternoon, August 13, 2025.
The riot erupted at 11:30 AM local time after protesters hurled bottled water and other dangerous objects at security officers. Officers, who had earlier tried to calm the crowd, eventually fired tear gas to disperse them.
Some protesters also attacked a building inside the Pati Regency Complex on Tombronegoro Street, smashing its windows.
A burnt-out, overturned car, believed to belong to a security officer, was seen on Wahidin Street amid the unrest.
According to Antara, unconfirmed reports of casualties circulated, but no official sources have verified them.
Triggered by 250% property tax hike
The protest stemmed from the Pati Regency Government's decision to raise the Property Tax for Rural and Urban Land (PBB-P2) by up to 250 percent. Officials said the maximum increase did not apply to all properties, with some seeing only a 50 percent rise.
Residents voiced strong opposition, but Regent Sudewo responded that even if 50,000 people protested, he would not change his decision. In response, residents began collecting bottled water donations along the sidewalks in front of the regency complex, stacking boxes high enough to obscure the regent's office from view.
An attempt by the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) to clear the boxes was met with resistance, an incident caught on video and later drawing the attention of Minister of Internal Affairs Tito Karnavian.
On August 7, 2025, Sudewo canceled the tax hike. "The property tax increase of 250 percent will be lowered as directed by the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Governor of Central Java, in line with residents' demands," he said.
Despite this reversal, the planned large-scale protest on August 13 went ahead, with demands shifting to the regent's resignation over his perceived arrogance. Antara reported that about 1,000 people joined Wednesday's demonstration in front of the Pati Regency Complex in the city square.
Protest initiator Husen and spokesman Syaiful Ayubi said Sudewo should step down due to his arrogance. Ayubi also urged demonstrators to remain orderly. "Show that the people of Pati are polite, peace-loving, and not arrogant," he said.
Regent Sudewo linked to railway corruption case?
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Regent Pati Sudewo (SDW) as one of the parties suspected of receiving kickbacks in a bribery case involving railway construction and maintenance projects under the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) at the Ministry of Transportation.
"Yes, Mr. SDW is suspected of receiving a commitment fee related to a railway construction project," KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said at the commission's Jakarta headquarters on Wednesday.
Budi added that the KPK is considering summoning the former House of Representatives (DPR) member as a witness.
Sudewo's name had previously surfaced in the trial of Central Java Railway Technical Office head Putu Sumarjaya and commitment maker Bernard Hasibuan at the Semarang Corruption Court on November 9, 2023.
At the time, KPK prosecutors presented evidence showing about Rp3 billion in cash, both rupiah and foreign currency, allegedly seized from Sudewo's residence.
Sudewo, then a DPR member from the Gerindra Party, denied the accusations, including claims of receiving Rp720 million from PT Istana Putra Agung and Rp500 million from Hasibuan via his aide, Nur Widayat.
On August 12, 2025, the KPK arrested the case's 15th suspect, Ministry of Transportation civil servant Risna Sutriyanto (RS).
The case first came to light after a KPK sting operation on April 11, 2023, at the Class I Central Java Railway Technical Office, now renamed Class I Semarang. Ten suspects were arrested at the scene.
By November 2024, the number of suspects had risen to 14, including two corporate entities.
The alleged corruption involved projects such as the double-track railway from Solo Balapan to Kadipiro-Kalioso; the Makassar railway line in South Sulawesi; four railway construction projects and two supervision projects in Lampegan, West Java; and level crossing upgrades across Java and Sumatra.
Investigators suspect collusion in determining project winners, with manipulation occurring from the administrative process through the tender stage.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2039093/pati-regent-facing-public-outrage-also-named-in-kpk-graft-cas