KPK continues Monsanto probe

JAKARTA: The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will question Michael Villareal, former vice president of Harvest International consulting company, and a number of Indonesian government officials in connection with the bribery scandal involving U.S.-based Monsanto Co.

KPK deputy chairman Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas said on Tuesday that Villareal has agreed to come to his office next week. PT Monagro Kimia, an affiliate of Monsanto, is also expected to send its representative to the commission.

On Monday, the KPK team questioned the deputy environment minister, Masnellyarti Hilman, in relation to the issuance of a letter by former environment minister Nabiel Makarim to former agriculture minister Bungaran Saragih about environment impact assessment for farmers, who expected to grow genetically-modified Bollgrad Cotton produced by Monsanto.

KPK has questioned a number of former ministers after Monsanto pleaded guilty to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Security and Exchange Commission for bribing a number of Indonesian officials in a bid to get a permit for the release of genetically-modified seeds in Indonesia. -- JP