KPK Opens Possibility of Summoning Forestry Minister Raja Juli in Kuansing Bribery Case

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has opened the possibility of summoning Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni following the disclosure of an alleged gratuity case related to the processing of a release for a limited production forest area (HPT) involving Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Regent Suhardiman Amby. “If it is indeed necessary to deepen the evidence or strengthen the facts of meetings that support the fulfilment of the elements later, a summons will be made,” said Acting Director of KPK Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Jakarta, Thursday 2 July 2026. Taufik then invited the public to await developments in the investigation of the case. Meanwhile, he said the KPK has currently only found facts regarding the collection of money from village unit cooperatives (KUD) in Kuansing to process the HPT area release permit. He explained that the money collected by the KUD came from deductions of the remaining operating results (SHU). “The cooperative has a business, and half of it was deducted for the purpose of processing the permit for the release of the limited production forest area at the Ministry of Forestry,” he said. However, he noted that the regional head only has the authority to provide a recommendation for the release of the HPT area, while the authority lies with the Ministry of Forestry. Therefore, Taufik said the KPK will investigate the meeting between Suhardiman and Raja Juli on 2 June 2026 as part of the investigation process. According to him, information regarding the meeting has been obtained by investigators from several parties. Based on the Kuantan Singingi Regency Government website, the meeting took place at the Ministry of Forestry Office in Jakarta on 2 June 2026. Previously, the KPK conducted a sting operation (OTT) in Kuantan Singingi Regency, Riau, and Jakarta on 29 June 2026, securing 10 individuals. The operation was the 14th OTT conducted by the KPK throughout 2026. Of that number, five people were taken to the KPK’s Merah Putih Building for intensive examination. They consisted of three private parties, a state civil servant from the Kuantan Singingi Regency Government, and Suhardiman’s wife, Suci Nitia Edwar. The KPK then requested that Suhardiman and Kuantan Singingi Regional Secretary Zulkarnain surrender themselves on 30 June 2026. Both complied with the request and were picked up by investigators at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Banten.