KPK Reveals Bupati Kuansing Gave Forestry Minister Envelope Containing Singapore Dollars

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that an envelope left by Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Bupati Suhardiman Amby for Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni contained Singapore dollar notes. KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated the money was allegedly collected by Suhardiman from 914 Village Unit Cooperatives (KUD), whose members are farmers. “The money was then exchanged into SGD. It is suspected that the Bupati then gave the SGD to the Forestry Minister,” Budi said on Wednesday (8/7/2026). Budi confirmed that Raja Juli has acknowledged the envelope incident, and the KPK is now investigating the matter further. “This has also been confirmed by the Minister through a press conference, where he even detailed the timeline of when the receipt occurred and when it was returned,” he added. The KPK previously explained that the funds from the KUD were allegedly collected by Suhardiman to process a permit for the release of a Limited Production Forest (HPT) area. The authority to release forest areas lies with the Ministry of Forestry, while the local government provides technical recommendations. “The Bupati collected money from 914 KUD members for the processing of the forest area release permit,” Budi said. Raja Juli has clarified the circumstances of his meeting with Suhardiman Amby on 2 June 2026, describing it as an open audience. “My first clarification is that it is true that on 2 June 2026, there was an audience with the Kuansing Bupati in this office. It was an open audience; the bupati sent an official letter, it was published on my social media and the ministry’s, and there is an attendance list and minutes,” Raja Juli told reporters at the Ministry of Forestry office in Central Jakarta on Friday (3/7). Raja Juli recounted that Suhardiman left an envelope covered by a folder in his office after the meeting. He then instructed his aide to return the envelope immediately. “During the audience, the Bupati of Kuansing left an envelope covered with a folder. When he left, I realised it and immediately asked my aide to return the envelope. I did not know what was inside, but I felt I had no right to it, and I asked my aide to return it,” he said. The aide returned the envelope at the Kuantan Singingi Police Station on 12 June 2026, 17 days before Suhardiman was caught in a sting operation. Raja Juli showed the receipt and photographs of the return to journalists. “I personally called the Riau Police Chief to help facilitate my aide’s meeting with the Bupati at the Kuansing Police Station. So on Friday, 12 June, about 17 days before the OTT, my aide returned the white envelope to the Bupati. There is a receipt and a photo. I showed the originals to you all,” the PSI Secretary-General said. Raja Juli subsequently reported the matter to the KPK as a suspected gratuity, a step that drew surprise from a member of the House of Representatives Commission IV, who argued that such reports should be made directly to the KPK within 30 days. “The official concerned should have handed it over to the KPK within 30 days. Because there is a grace period, it should have gone to the KPK, not to the person concerned. Therefore, this needs clarification,” said Commission IV member Firman Soebagyo. The KPK stated it will analyse Raja Juli’s report and noted that returning the money does not eliminate the criminal element. Separately, the KPK has named Kuansing Bupati Suhardiman Amby a bribery suspect for allegedly receiving a Toyota Land Cruiser worth Rp 2 billion to appoint Zulkarnain as Regional Secretary. The case began in April 2025 when there were two candidates for the Kuansing Regional Secretary position: Fahdiansyah, an Assistant at the Kuansing Government, and Zulkarnain, the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency. Only Zulkarnain agreed to the bupati’s alleged request, and he was subsequently selected. Three individuals have been named suspects: Suhardiman Amby as the Bupati of Kuansing, Zulkarnain as the Regional Secretary of Kuansing, and Ardiles as the President Director of PT MIC.