Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto replaced disaster-management chief Suharyanto with Kristomei Sianturi on 15 October, as the country continues battling fires that have spread haze across parts of the region.
The appointment came a day after Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission, known as the KPK, named Suharyanto’s younger brother, Bima Setyawan, among five suspects in an investigation into procurement at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
No official reason was given for Suharyanto’s replacement. Whether the change is connected to the corruption investigation remains unclear.
New Chief Takes Over During Fire Response
Kristomei, an army general, previously led the Radin Inten Regional Military Command, a position he had held since August 2025.
He takes over an agency involved in tackling land and forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, which have blanketed parts of the region in smoke haze.
Suharyanto had led the BNPB since November 2021, when he was appointed by then-president Joko Widodo.
Brother Among Five Suspects In Procurement Probe
The investigation concerns alleged corruption in the purchase of goods and services using the agency’s emergency funds. Such funds are intended for urgent needs, including delivering assistance to disaster-hit areas.
Bima also served as an expert adviser to the BNPB chief. The other suspects include another expert adviser, Richard Erlangga, a BNPB procurement official and two people from the private sector.
Speaking on 14 October, KPK chairman Setyo Budiyanto said investigators suspected Richard of using his position to approach suppliers, Indonesian news agency ANTARA reported.
Setyo also said Bima was suspected of involvement in procedures that breached the agency’s rules, particularly those involving emergency funds.
Investigators were examining indications that individuals had worked together to manipulate the allocation and use of budgets, with some money allegedly diverted for personal benefit.
The suspected wrongdoing also involves rules allowing the BNPB to appoint suppliers directly during emergencies. Investigators suspect those arrangements were exploited to benefit particular parties.
These remain allegations under investigation.
The five suspects were identified following an operation in which 14 people were detained, including BNPB secretary-general Rustian. Rustian was subsequently released and is being treated as a witness.
