KPK continues Monsanto probe

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