KPK Traces Money Flow in Kuansing Regent's Forest Area Release Case

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has announced it will trace the flow of money from the alleged receipts of Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Regent Suhardiman Amby related to the release of a Limited Production Forest (HPT) area. The investigation is being conducted because the authority for processing the release of HPT areas lies with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, while the local government is only authorised to provide technical recommendations and spatial planning conformity. Acting KPK Director of Investigations Achmad Taufik Husein stated that the money Suhardiman allegedly requested was a portion of the surplus from the Village Unit Cooperative (KUD) members, who are farmers in Kuansing. In other words, the farmers’ income, which amounts to a few hundred thousand rupiah per month, had to be cut in half. “Nevertheless, the KPK will continue to investigate further into the alleged receipt, including whether it flowed to other parties,” Taufik said during a press conference at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon. The KPK stated that the alleged corruption case involving Suhardiman is related to a regional project that affects the livelihoods of the community. Geographically, 50 percent of the Kuansing area is plantation land, 65 to 70 percent of which consists of oil palm plantations with the prospect of producing 2.2 tonnes of palm oil per month, worth approximately IDR 2.7 billion. However, in terms of infrastructure, around 38 to 45 percent of roads in the Kuansing area remain in poor condition due to the tonnage of palm oil and coal logistics trucks. In a separate case, Suhardiman is also implicated in an alleged bribery case related to the buying and selling of public office. Taufik explained that in April 2025, the Kuansing Regency Government opened a job auction for the position of Regional Secretary. There were two candidates: Fahdiansyah, the Assistant I of the Kuansing Regency Government who was also serving as Acting Regional Secretary at the time, and Zulkarnain, the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency. “SA [Suhardiman Amby], as the Regent of Kuansing for the 2025-2030 period, then ‘requested as a condition’ a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR-S SUV from the parties or candidates participating in the selection process for the Kuansing Regional Secretary position,” Taufik said. Ultimately, only Zulkarnain agreed to the demand and was subsequently selected as the Kuansing Regional Secretary for the 2025 period. “To fulfil the request, ZKN [Zulkarnain] then purchased one Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR-S SUV for IDR 2.05 billion at a showroom located in the Greater Jakarta area,” Taufik stated. “The purchase was made on credit, with instalments of IDR 46.5 million per month over a 5-year tenor,” he added. Due to his financial profile, Zulkarnain did not qualify to apply for such a large loan. He used the identity of Ardiles, the Director of PT Mitra Ideal Consultant (MIC), to apply for the credit process. Taufik further revealed that Zulkarnain had previously allegedly given one Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Dakar worth IDR 700 million to the Acting Regent during the appointment process for the Head of the Kuansing Public Works Agency in 2021. The purchase of that vehicle was also made on credit, facilitated by Ardiles. The KPK suspects Ardiles helped Zulkarnain to continue securing project work packages within the Kuansing Regency Government. “Among them, ARD subsequently won 13 projects at the Public Works Agency in the 2022 Fiscal Year with a total value reaching IDR 1.2 billion,” Taufik said. Additionally, Ardiles again won projects in several agencies and the Kuansing regional secretariat in 2025 and 2026 with a value exceeding IDR 966 million. The two alleged bribery incidents for office appointments illustrate an ‘upgrade’ in the value of the bribes. Previously, Zulkarnain bribed with a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Dakar for the position of Head of the Kuansing Public Works Agency worth IDR 700 million. He then committed bribery again for the position of Kuansing Regional Secretary with a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR-S worth IDR 2.05 billion. Taufik explained that purchasing the two vehicles used as instruments of bribery through a credit or instalment scheme with a specific tenor also appeared to lock in Zulkarnain’s position as ‘safe’ during the repayment period. For his actions, Suhardiman, as the recipient, is charged with violating Article 12 letter a or letter b and/or Article 12 B of the Corruption Eradication Law. Meanwhile, Zulkarnain and Ardiles, as the givers, are charged with violating Article 605 or Article 606 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustments in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of the Criminal Code. “The KPK has subsequently detained the suspects for the first 20 days, starting from 1 July to 20 July 2026. The detention is being carried out at the KPK’s Red and White Building Branch State Detention Centre,” Taufik concluded.