Former regent reported to KPK

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Former Pasir regent Yusriansyah Syarkawi, who ended his term of office in January, was reported to the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) over Rp 130 billion (US$14.4 million) in reforestation funds.

The report was filed by a local monitoring committee and the Islamic Student Association on Wednesday. The report accuses the former regent of allowing logging companies to cut down trees without making them contribute to a reforestation fund.

"By violating regulations and not collecting the reforestation funds, he cost the country up to Rp 130 billion," said Fitriansyah, a coordinator of the monitoring committee. -- JP