Forestry Minister Raja Juli Admits Envelope from Kuansing Regent, Says It Was Returned

Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni has acknowledged that an envelope was left behind by Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Regent Suhardiman Amby. He stated that he immediately instructed his aide to return the envelope. Suhardiman Amby surrendered to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Tuesday (30/6) after being sought in a sting operation (OTT) since Monday (29/6). Suhardiman was later named a suspect for receiving a bribe in the form of a Land Cruiser related to the selection of a regional secretary on Wednesday (1/7). During a press conference, the KPK mentioned other alleged corruption by Suhardiman, specifically regarding the receipt of money related to the release of limited production forest. According to the KPK, forest release is entirely under the authority of the Ministry of Forestry, but the Kuansing regional government has the authority to provide technical recommendations for forest area release. Raja Juli confirmed a meeting with Suhardiman on 2 June 2026, stating the audience was conducted officially and openly. “My first clarification is that it is true that on 2 June 2026, there was an audience with the Regent of Kuansing in this office. This was an open audience; the regent sent an official letter, it was published on social media by both myself and the Ministry, and there is an attendance list and minutes. So if the KPK needs it at any time, or we will even proactively submit what I have mentioned,” said Raja Juli at the Ministry of Forestry office in Central Jakarta on Friday (3/7/2026). He said Suhardiman left an envelope covered with a folder during the audience. Raja Juli claimed he only realised after the meeting ended and asked his aide to return the envelope. “In that audience, it turned out that the Regent of Kuansing left an envelope covered with a folder. And when he left, I just realised, and I immediately asked my aide to return the envelope. I do not know what its contents were, but I felt I had no right to the envelope, and I asked my aide to return it,” he said. He stated his aide was only able to depart to return the envelope to the Regent of Kuansing on Friday (12/6). He said the aide departed equipped with a travel order from the Secretary-General of the Ministry. “On Thursday, 11 June, the Secretary-General issued a travel order for my aide to visit the Regent of Kuantan Singingi,” he said. Raja Juli also stated he contacted officials in Riau to assist his aide in meeting the Regent when returning the envelope. He mentioned the envelope was returned on 12 June, 17 days before the OTT. “So on 12 June, a Friday, about 17 days before the OTT occurred, my aide had returned the envelope, a white envelope, to the Regent of Kuantan Singingi. There is a receipt, there are photos. I will show you the original. This is the receipt, dated 12 June at 14.57,” he said. “The recipient is Dr Suhardiman Amby, Regent of Kuantan Singingi. It is stamped. This is my aide, Bambang Supriyadi. 12 June at 14.57. 17 days before the OTT. As my moral responsibility, my public responsibility as the leader here, we returned the envelope left by the regent during the audience,” Raja Juli continued. He also guaranteed that no decree had been issued for forest release in Kuansing. He stated he was not involved in the case and was ready to provide information if needed by the KPK. “The envelope was returned on 12 June, 17 days before the OTT occurred. And secondly, not a single inch of forest area has I authorised for release in Kuantan Singingi,” he said.