KPK Probes Meeting Between Non-Active Kuansing Regent and Forestry Minister Raja Juli
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is delving into a meeting between Suhardiman Amby, while serving as Regent of Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing), Kuansing Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) Speaker Juprizal, Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, and a number of Forestry Ministry officials.
KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said the anti-graft body was looking into the matter by questioning Donny August Satriayudha Dwi Hatmanto (DAS), Director of Forest Area Designation at the Forestry Ministry; Suprapto (SRT), Head of the Forest Area Designation Sub-Directorate for Region I at the ministry; and Dalu Agung Darmawan (DAD), Secretary General of the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), as witnesses on 23 July 2026.
“The witnesses who appeared for questioning, namely DAS, SRT, and DAD, were asked for information regarding the meeting held by SA as Regent, the Speaker of the Kuansing DPRD, and officials within the Kuansing Regency Government, with RJA as Minister of Forestry along with officials within the Forestry Ministry,” Budi told journalists in Jakarta on Friday.
Based on the questioning of the three witnesses, Budi said, the KPK obtained information that the meeting between Kuansing Regency Government officials and the Forestry Ministry discussed forest conversion and the use of social forestry.
Meanwhile, he said the KPK had been scheduled to question Catur Endah Prasetiani, Director-General of Social Forestry at the Forestry Ministry, on Thursday (23/7), but she did not appear.
“CEP, as Director-General of Social Forestry at the ministry, did not attend the scheduled questioning. Investigators are still awaiting her confirmation,” he said.
Kuansing Regent Suhardiman Amby and Kuansing Regional Secretary Zulkarnain subsequently surrendered to the KPK on 30 June 2026.
On 1 July 2026, the KPK named Suhardiman Amby, Zulkarnain, and Ardiles, President Director of PT Mitra Ideal Consultant, as suspects in an alleged bribery case related to the buying and selling of positions within the Kuantan Singingi Regency Government between 2021 and 2026.
In addition to the alleged bribery, the KPK also suspects Suhardiman of receiving gratuities connected to the processing of the release of a limited production forest area.
After his name became embroiled in the case, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni explained on 3 July 2026 that when he received Suhardiman for an audience on 2 June 2026, the regional head left behind an envelope inside a closed folder.
According to Raja Juli, he only became aware of the envelope after Suhardiman had left the room. He then ordered his aide to return the envelope without knowing its contents.
Raja Juli said the envelope was returned on 12 June 2026, after having been delayed earlier due to scheduling constraints. The envelope was returned to Suhardiman through his aide in Kuantan Singingi Regency.
On 3 July 2026, Raja Juli also reported the rejected gratuity to the KPK. Meanwhile, on 17 July 2026, the KPK announced it was rejecting Raja Juli’s report because it was already investigating the giving of the gratuity.