Forestry Minister Raja Juli Declines to Comment on KPK's Claim of Incomplete Cash Return

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni declined to comment on the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) allegation that he has not fully returned money in an envelope left by non-active Kuantan Singingi Regent Suhardiman Amby.

The incident occurred when Raja Juli was questioned by journalists regarding the controversy surrounding the envelope’s return after attending a meeting on agrarian conflict at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Monday.

“We are talking about agrarian reform today,” said Raja Juli as he walked out of the Nusantara III Building at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta.

After making that statement, he continued walking towards his official car and refused to comment further, gesturing with his hand to decline.

Raja Juli then immediately entered his official car without speaking further to the media.

Previously, the Corruption Eradication Commission suspected that Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni had not returned all the money in the envelope left by non-active Kuantan Singingi Regent Suhardiman Amby.

“Investigators found that the return was not complete,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Wednesday (5/8).

According to Budi, the KPK suspects that Raja Juli has only returned 12,000 Singapore dollars to Suhardiman Amby. Meanwhile, the amount of money in the envelope is estimated to be 14,000 Singapore dollars.

“This is certainly still being investigated and traced. Why is there still a difference or gap between the money given by the regent to the Forestry Minister on 2 June and the amount of money returned?” he said.

In this case, the KPK conducted a sting operation (OTT) against Suhardiman, who was subsequently named a suspect for alleged bribery related to the buying and selling of positions within the Kuantan Singingi Regency Government during 2021–2026.

In addition to the alleged bribery, the KPK also suspects Suhardiman of receiving gratuities related to the release of limited production forest areas.