Plantation firm director charged in Palu graft scam<\/p>\n
Ruslan Sangadji, Palu<\/p>\n
A director of a forestry and plantation firm has been named a
\nsuspect in the misuse of more than Rp 2.395 billion (US$266,111)
\nin state reforestation funds, spokesman of the Central Sulawesi
\nProsecutor's Office Hasman said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He said Gunawan Purwanto, director of PT Mitra Buana Persada
\nMukti based in Palu, was formally named a suspect following the
\nquestioning of several witnesses and the discovery of evidence.<\/p>\n
Hasman said Gunawan was being interrogated thoroughly by a
\nteam of prosecutors and hoped his case file would be submitted to
\ncourt soon to initiate trial proceedings.<\/p>\n
Mitra Buana Persada won a tender in 2002 to manage the Rp
\n2.395 billion Local High-grade Forestry Development (PHUTL)
\nproject funded by the Ministry of Forestry, and was to replant
\nlocal high-grade trees such as the cempaka, nyato and palapi in a
\nCentral Sulawesi forest.<\/p>\n
However, the provincial prosecutor's office unearthed
\nirregularities in the project's management, as the company had
\nnot fulfilled its part, even though the government had disbursed
\nall funds for the project.<\/p>\n
The money was received by Mitra Buana Persada's head office in
\nJakarta, said a local forestry official who requested anonymity.<\/p>\n
"The funds had all been disbursed, but only 50 percent of the
\nproject was actually carried out. I suspect collusion between the
\ncompany and officials of the Central Sulawesi forestry office,"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
The replanting project was located on 800 hectares of a forest
\narea in Taopa village, Moutong district, Parigi Moutong regency,
\nwhich was formerly controlled by concessionaire PT Kolano Tiga
\nDua.<\/p>\n
Hasman said prosecutors had questioned 20 witnesses in
\nconnection with the case, including Central Sulawesi forestry
\noffice head Idris Makkanyuma.<\/p>\n
"But I could not say whether any of these witnesses would also
\nbe declared suspects or not. We are still investigating," he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Idris, when contacted by The Jakarta Post, declined to comment
\non his involvement in the case.<\/p>\n
"Please ask the prosecutors who are dealing with the case," he
\nsaid.<\/p>",
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