The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has questioned two\nwitnesses regarding the release of a Limited Production Forest (HPT)\narea in Kuantan Singingi Regency (Kuansing), Riau Province, in an\nexamination held on Thursday (23\/7).<\/p>\n
The witnesses in question are Suprapto, Head of the Forest Area\nConfirmation Sub-Directorate for Region I at the Directorate General of\nForestry Planning at the Ministry of Forestry, and Dalu Agung Darmawan,\nDirector General of Agrarian Arrangement at the Ministry of Agrarian\nAffairs and Spatial Planning\/National Land Agency (ATR\/BPN).<\/p>\n
\u201cToday there were two witnesses examined by investigators \u2014 one from\nthe Ministry of Forestry, relating to the permit for the release of\nforest areas in the Kuansing region, and one from the Ministry of\nATR\/BPN,\u201d said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at the Red and White\nBuilding in Jakarta on Thursday (23\/7) evening.<\/p>\n
Budi explained that the forest area release was intended for the\nAgrarian Reform Object Land (TORA) programme, which falls under the\nMinistry of ATR\/BPN.<\/p>\n
He said there is an allegation that Kuansing Regent Suhardiman Amby\ncollected money from members of Village Unit Cooperatives (KUD), which\nwas then used to process the application for the forest area release\nwith the Ministry of Forestry.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this context, the regent\u2019s authority is limited to technical\nmatters and spatial planning conditions. The decision on the forest area\nrelease permit rests with the Ministry of Forestry,\u201d said Budi.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo once the forest release permit is obtained, the programme at\nATR\/BPN can then proceed,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
CNNIndonesia.com has yet to obtain comment from Suprapto and Dalu\nAgung regarding the examination.<\/p>\n
The KPK is currently prosecuting three suspects in an alleged bribery\ncase concerning appointments to regional administrative posts and\/or\ngratification in Kuansing Regency between 2021 and 2026.<\/p>\n
The case was uncovered by the KPK through a sting operation\n(OTT).<\/p>\n
The suspects are Kuansing Regent Suhardiman Amby; Zulkarnain,\nRegional Secretary of the Kuansing Regency Government; and Ardiles,\nDirector of PT Mitra Ideal Consultant (MIC), in the alleged\nposition-related bribery case.<\/p>\n
Suhardiman is also being prosecuted for other alleged receipts\nconnected to the release of the Limited Production Forest area.<\/p>\n
The suspects have been detained at the KPK\u2019s Red and White Building\nbranch detention house.<\/p>\n
Suhardiman, as the recipient, is suspected of violating Article 12\nletter a or letter b and\/or Article 12B of the Law on the Eradication of\nCriminal Acts of Corruption.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Zulkarnain and Ardiles, as the givers, are suspected of\nviolating Article 605 or Article 606 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of\n2023 on the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 on\nPenal Adjustments in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of the\nCriminal Code.<\/p>\n
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni has been drawn into the case\nbut has not yet been examined.<\/p>\n
However, the Secretary-General of the Indonesian Solidarity Party\n(PSI) has already reported his rejection of gratification received from\nthe Kuansing Regent to the KPK.<\/p>\n
The KPK nevertheless rejected that report and will look into Raja\nJuli\u2019s role as the investigation proceeds.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpk-grills-forestry-and-agrarian-ministry-officials-over-kuansing-forest-release-1784861569", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }