KPK Suspects Kuansing Regent Involved in Forest Release Bribery
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects that Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Regent Suhardiman Amby was not only involved in a bribery case related to the buying and selling of a government position, but also in the release of limited production forest (HPT) areas. The alleged findings were obtained when the KPK conducted a sting operation (OTT) against Suhardiman.
Initially, the KPK carried out the OTT against Suhardiman based on initial information regarding alleged bribery related to the position of candidate for regional secretary. However, during the OTT, the KPK team discovered Suhardiman’s alleged involvement in the release of HPT.
Acting Director of Investigation at the KPK, Ahmad Taufik Husein, stated that the regional government has the authority to provide technical recommendations and spatial planning suitability. However, the release of forest areas should be the authority of the Ministry of Forestry.
‘The KPK also found evidence of other alleged receipts by SA related to the release of limited production forest (HPT) areas,’ Taufik said at the KPK building in South Jakarta on Wednesday (1/7/2026).
Taufik mentioned that investigators found indications of illegal money receipts by Suhardiman. The money requested was allegedly a portion of the remaining business results (SHU) belonging to members of the Village Unit Cooperative (KUD), who are farmers in Kuansing.
‘The money requested was allegedly a portion of the remaining business results (SHU) of KUD members, who are farmers in Kuansing. In other words, the income of these farmers, which amounts to hundreds of thousands of rupiah per month, had to be cut in half,’ Taufik explained.
He said the KPK investigation team will continue to probe this case. The KPK does not rule out the possibility of examining the potential involvement of other officials or parties.
‘However, the KPK will still conduct further investigation regarding these alleged receipts, including whether they flowed to other parties,’ he stated.
In the earlier case, the KPK named Kuansing Regent Suhardiman Amby as a bribery suspect. Suhardiman allegedly accepted a bribe in the form of a Toyota Land Cruiser worth IDR 2 billion to select Zulkarnain as Regional Secretary.
Acting Director of Investigation at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, said the case began in April 2025. He mentioned there were two candidates for Kuansing Regional Secretary, namely Fahdiansyah, an Assistant at the Kuansing Regency Government, and Zulkarnain, the Head of the Public Works and Housing Agency.
‘SA (Suhardiman Amby), as the Regent of Kuansing for the 2025-2030 period, then requested a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR-S SUV as a condition from the parties or candidates participating in the selection process for the Kuansing Regional Secretary position,’ Achmad Taufik said during a press conference at the KPK building in South Jakarta on Wednesday (1/7/2026).
In the process, only Zulkarnain agreed to the demand. Zulkarnain was subsequently selected as the Regional Secretary of Kuansing.
‘To fulfil this request, ZKN then purchased a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR-S SUV for IDR 2.05 billion at a showroom located in the Greater Jakarta area. The purchase was made on credit or in instalments of IDR 46.5 million per month, with a tenor of five years,’ he said.
In total, three people have been named as suspects, namely: 1. Suhardiman Amby as the Regent of Kuansing; 2. Zulkarnain as the Regional Secretary of Kuansing; and 3. Ardiles as the President Director of PT MIC.