KPK Examines Forestry Ministry Director in Rita Widyasari Graft Case
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has examined the Director of Forest Area Gazettement at the Ministry of Forestry, Donny August Satriayudha Dwi Hatmanto, as a witness in a graft case involving former Kutai Kartanegara Regent Rita Widyasari. The case concerns alleged gratuities related to coal production in Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan. “The examination took place at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Jakarta, for the individual named DAS, in his capacity as Director of Forest Area Gazettement at the Ministry of Forestry,” KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo told journalists in Jakarta on Thursday.
In addition to the ministry director, the KPK also examined four other witnesses. They include a private sector individual with the initials MCH, AWB who serves as a Commissioner of PT Abi Jaya Mandiri, LLD who is a Commissioner of PT ALF Minindo, and ALB who is the Director of PT ALF Minindo. Budi Prasetyo stated that the five witnesses were questioned as part of an investigation into corporate suspects.
According to KPK records as of 1.20 p.m. local time, Donny August arrived at 10.12 a.m., MCH at 9.59 a.m., AWB at 10.04 a.m., and both LLD and ALB at 9.40 a.m. The case originated when the KPK named Rita Widyasari, the former Regent of Kutai Kartanegara, along with Hery Susanto Gun, the President Director of PT Sawit Golden Prima, and Khairudin, a Commissioner of PT Media Bangun Bersama, as suspects in a gratuity case on 28 September 2017. Rita was suspected of receiving gratuities related to the issuance of a palm oil plantation location permit to PT Sawit Golden Prima in Kupang Baru Village, Muara Kaman District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency.
The KPK later expanded the case, and on 16 January 2018, named Rita and Khairudin as suspects in a money laundering case. During the investigation, the KPK seized various assets believed to be linked to the case, including 91 vehicles, several items of economic value, five plots of land covering thousands of square metres, and 30 luxury watches of various brands. The seizure was announced on 6 June 2024. On 19 February 2025, the KPK revealed allegations that Rita had received illicit payments from the coal mining sector, valued at approximately 5 US dollars per metric tonne of coal. In the latest development, on 19 February 2026, the KPK named three corporations as suspects in the coal production gratuity case in Kutai Kartanegara: PT Sinar Kumala Naga, PT Alamjaya Bara Pratama, and PT Bara Kumala Sakti.