KPK Grills Forestry and Agrarian Ministry Officials Over Kuansing Forest Release
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has questioned two witnesses regarding the release of a Limited Production Forest (HPT) area in Kuantan Singingi Regency (Kuansing), Riau Province, in an examination held on Thursday (23/7).
The witnesses in question are Suprapto, Head of the Forest Area Confirmation Sub-Directorate for Region I at the Directorate General of Forestry Planning at the Ministry of Forestry, and Dalu Agung Darmawan, Director General of Agrarian Arrangement at the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN).
“Today there were two witnesses examined by investigators — one from the Ministry of Forestry, relating to the permit for the release of forest areas in the Kuansing region, and one from the Ministry of ATR/BPN,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at the Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday (23/7) evening.
Budi explained that the forest area release was intended for the Agrarian Reform Object Land (TORA) programme, which falls under the Ministry of ATR/BPN.
He said there is an allegation that Kuansing Regent Suhardiman Amby collected money from members of Village Unit Cooperatives (KUD), which was then used to process the application for the forest area release with the Ministry of Forestry.
“In this context, the regent’s authority is limited to technical matters and spatial planning conditions. The decision on the forest area release permit rests with the Ministry of Forestry,” said Budi.
“So once the forest release permit is obtained, the programme at ATR/BPN can then proceed,” he continued.
CNNIndonesia.com has yet to obtain comment from Suprapto and Dalu Agung regarding the examination.
The KPK is currently prosecuting three suspects in an alleged bribery case concerning appointments to regional administrative posts and/or gratification in Kuansing Regency between 2021 and 2026.
The case was uncovered by the KPK through a sting operation (OTT).
The suspects are Kuansing Regent Suhardiman Amby; Zulkarnain, Regional Secretary of the Kuansing Regency Government; and Ardiles, Director of PT Mitra Ideal Consultant (MIC), in the alleged position-related bribery case.
Suhardiman is also being prosecuted for other alleged receipts connected to the release of the Limited Production Forest area.
The suspects have been detained at the KPK’s Red and White Building branch detention house.
Suhardiman, as the recipient, is suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or letter b and/or Article 12B of the Law on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption.
Meanwhile, Zulkarnain and Ardiles, as the givers, are suspected of violating Article 605 or Article 606 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 on Penal Adjustments in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of the Criminal Code.
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni has been drawn into the case but has not yet been examined.
However, the Secretary-General of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) has already reported his rejection of gratification received from the Kuansing Regent to the KPK.
The KPK nevertheless rejected that report and will look into Raja Juli’s role as the investigation proceeds.